BOY SCOUTS TO GO TO SOUTH POLE WITH BYRD EXPEDITION

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6668, 23 July 1928, Page 5

BOY SCOUTS TO GO TO SOUTH POLE WITH BYRD EXPEDITION

NEW YORK. • A Boy Scout is to go with Commander Richard E. Byrd to the south pole, according to an announcement just made by James E. West, chief Scout executive here. This boy will be picked from the ' Scout organisation this summer,. This win be the third big expedition with Boy Scouts as members. Thers> are now three Boy Scouts with Air and Mrs. Martin Johnson in Africa. Last year tho entire deck crew of the polar ship Northern Light, of the John Borden-Chicago Field Museum Expedition to the arctic, was made up of Chicago Sea Scouts. As with the Martin Johnson expedition, the Boy Scout who will accompany Commander Byrd will be picked for his peculiar fitness to make this .trip.. To determine this a competition will be held. Alost of the older Boy Scouts it is expected, will take part in this contest. It will be nation-wide. There are 825,000 members of the Boy Scout organisation. ' The candidate must have had a minimum. of two years’ membership in the Scout movement, attaining first-class or “able Sea Scout’’ rank. Tho age limits are from 17 to 20 years. Preference will be given to those who have achieved Scout merit badges in the study of astronomy, aviation, electricity, handicraft, hiking, pathfinding, photography, pioneering, signalling, stalking, radio, seamanship, ■ blacksmithing, carpentry conservation, interpreting, journalism, leather work, machinery ,painting plumbing, surveying and taxidermy. Among other detailed requirements arc that the parents of the boy approve his going.