Call For A Leader

Northern Advocate, 9 December 1940, Page 4

Call For A Leader

WHEN the Dominion Commissioner of Boy Scouts was.in Whangarei recently, he expressed the opinion that this district, blessed with a fine harbour, should possess a company of Sea Scouts. This opinion should have general endorsement. There is everything to commend it. Throughout the British Empire, Sea Scouts are familiar figures. New Zealand is not without its representatives of this most valuable branch of Scouting, but, so far, Northland has not been able to boast the possession of a company. There is no question as to the suitability of Whangarei as a centre for such an institution. The harbour provides admirable facilities. Indeed, it may be safely said that in few parts of the Dominion are conditions so favourable for the successful ' operation of Sea Scouts. It should be unnecessary to stress the importance of any movement which, in addition to instilling in its members the high ideals of thought and action inculcated by the Boy Scout constitution, gives them a practical knowledge of ships and the sea. A far-flung empire, the units of which are scattered over the Seven Seas, must of necessity be dependent for its life upon sailors and ships. Without these the empire could not remain undivided in peace or war. The coming of steam, and latterly of aerial transport, has been regarded as sounding the death knell of sails and sailors, but recent years have proved the unsoundness of this conclusion. The war has served to prove—if proof were wanted—that Britain’s life depends upon the sea today just as it did in the days of long ago, when wooden merchantmen and wooden warships manned by 1 British sailors ruled the seas. It is to foster the love of the sea and to provide information necessary on the part of sailors that the Sea Scouts movement has been develped. That this training can be of great value in time of stress is shown by the wonderful work done by the Mortlake Sea Scouts during the epic days of Dunkirk. The English boys who formed the company 6f a 45-foot motor picket boat performed invaluable service in towing small open ships’ boats, laden with soldiers, to troop transports moored in deep water, or loading ships from the open boats, and proceeding out to the transports. This was done to the accompaniment of all the death and destruction which German guns and bombers aimed during the withdrawal from Dunkirk. But for the training the boys had received as Sea Scouts they could not possibly have acted in a manner which brought high praise from the naval officers under whom they worked. They were ready to answer their Empire’s call in the hour of trial, and right well did they acquit themselves. Whangarei boys would do the same thing if they were trained and the call for service should come. Training, however, must come first. At the moment, all that is required to start a company of Sea Scouts is a leader. A very suitable boat has been offered at a price which is about a tenth of its value, but this offer expires on Friday unless a man qpalified to undertake the work of Sea Scoutmaster is secured before that date. This constitutes a wonderful opportunity for service on the part of a marj. of character and seafaring knowledge. The Empire and the sons | of the Empire in this district are in need of such a man. It is to 1 be hoped that one who feels that he could undertake a post of honour will communicate with the Commissioner of Scouts, care ; of the Health Department, Whangarei, before Wednesday. It : would be a thousand pities if the offer of a boat suited in every respect for the desired work should be lost because a leader could not be found, I