BOY SCOUTS AT HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15482, 13 December 1913, Page 5 (Supplement)

BOY SCOUTS AT HOME.

With the object of keeping in touch with [ youths who pass out of the Boy Scout I movement in the natural course when they j find employment at sixteen and eighteen years of age, and of retaining thoir sympathy and support to the cause until such time as thoy are old enough to become scoutmasters," the committee of tho Council of the Boy Scouts' Association adopted an interesting scheme. . It is recognised that from the time a boy comes to be a scoujt until ho can become a scoutmaster a certain _ period elapses in, which there is great danger of his drifting away from the movement altogether. As tho adequate supply of masters will depend largely upon tho support of ■ tho ex-scout, who obviously furnishes the best material for tho purpose, it has been decided to establish a Scouts' Friendly Society. This society will bo separate from the Boy Scouts' Association, and, in accordance with the Friendly Societies Acts, must bo under the absolute control of its own members; but it is intended that it shall work in close touch with the association and in complete harmony with scout principles. . The general idea is'to establish "camps" all over tho United Kingdom (commencing with the big centres and gradually extending), which shall serve as intcrchangable clubs or lodges to members on payment of a small subscription. All scouts and ex-scouts over sixteen, and all male scout officials and ex-officials, will he eligible for membership. Provision will bo made for the admission of gentlemen interested in scouting as honorary members, The . promoters say that the society will probably commence with a modest list of special benefits, and will gradually acid benefits usually offered by friendly societies when its members and resources permit. The society will also bo "approved" under the National Insurance Act. . '"