DIOCESAN BOY SCOUTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16366, 21 October 1916, Page 8

DIOCESAN BOY SCOUTS.

„+, OFFICIAL RECOGNITION. GOOD WORK ACCOMPLISHED. Thk annual meeting of the Auckland Diocesan Boy Scouts' Association was held in St. Sepulchre's schoolroom on Thursday evening. The Anglican Bishop of Auckland presided over a full attendance of scout officers, chaplains, and tho members of the Women's and Men's Troop .Committees, about eighty being present. The Rev. F. W. Young, of Devpnport, 'and Captain Gibson, of the Dilworth Institute, who gave addresses, brought out with emphasis the ultimate aim of all work among boys— development of character—and how this was chiefly brought about unconsciously by the association of boys with men of character .and spirituality. ' The diocesan district commander submitted his annual report, which revealed much progress. There were now 31 troops in 13 parishes, with a total membership of 880 scouts, 32 commissioned officers, and over 300 non-commissioned officers, and 15 scoutmasters on active sorvicc. One had laid down his life for his country, and two had returned from the front. A large number of men who once belonged to the diocesan organisation were also on active service. An interesting development during the year had been the formation of troop committees. Most of the troops had their women's and men's committees, and much valuable work bad been done. The district commander said he was in a position to announce that a new basis of affiliation satisfactory to the chief commissioner and the Auckland provincial commissioner, as well as to the diocesan organisation, had been arranged. In future what was known as the diocesan brigade would bo known as the Auckland Diocesan Boy Scouts' Association, affiliated with the Dominion Boy Scouts Incorporated bv Royal Charter. The basis of agreement is that tho association jhall have the status of a scout district, with its own district commander and chief examiner, J and will be in direct contact with tho I provincial commissioner. The diocesan executive, which lias been in existence for four years and has claimed the "right to manage its own affairs, is now officially recognised, and tho change should assist the scout movement generally in the province. Scoutmaster E. A. Waters presented a statement showing that the accounts wero in a satisfactory state. I Dr. Averill, in moving the adoption of I the report and balance-sheet, congratu- ; lated the officers on the splendid progress : that had been made, and upon the .lew basis of affiliation, mentioning more particularly the work done by the district commander, the Rev. R. J. Stanton. He felt sure they would now be able to go forward with much facility. He thanked the officers for their loyal services, and j welcomed the members of the different troops committees who were present. The new constitution and rules for the association were adopted, and the followin? appointments were made :—President, (he Anglican Bishop of Auckland. Dr. \. W. Averill: district commander, the Rev. Ft. ,T. Stanton diocesan scout secretary, Scoutmaster K. A. Waters; diocesan badge secretary and treasurer, Scoutposter H. Blomplev: executive council, officers ex officio, Canon MacFnrlanrl, Captain Oibson. Mr. C. Hudson. Scoutmasters Tenderers and Brown; diocesan adjutants. Lieutenant Ashton and Scoutmaster Rodeers. At the conclusion of the pieetintr there was a conference of scout officers, and it. was arranged to continue t'ic monthlv meetines and to prenav» a syllabus of sneakers. Scoutmaster TreoeWan was elerfed secretary to the scoutmasters' I meeting.