THE BOY SCOUTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19917, 10 April 1928, Page 12

THE BOY SCOUTS.

Sir,—-It was very pleasing to read "Mother of ScoutV letter in Saturday's issue concerning the magistrate's remark when four "religious objectors" were before the Court for exemption from military training. The suggestion that these "objectors" should join the scout movement and carry a broomstick and clasp knife was, in my opinion, an insult tc the organisation. One has only to be associated with the scouts to know that these two articles are cf great use and service in a hundred and one ways. A person who refuses to train and be in readiness to help his country in time of war and who bases his excuse upon religion has not' a thorough knowledge of the Biblical teaching. Does not the Bible tell us that "Christ died that we may live?" It is up to each and everyone of us, if need should arise, to do our • duty to God, our King and our country, and in time of peace prepare to defend and thereby uphold the traditions of our . race so nobly left by our forefathers. What benefit would the boys derive from a scoutmaster who is an "objector" and in time of danger refuses to defend his womenfolk ? A leader in the scout movement' must be a man in every sense of the word. The proof of this was shown in the late war when hundreds, nay, thousands, answered their country*s call and died nobly upholding Britain's traditions. It is a pity there is not a law to deal more strictly and severely with "religious objectors" and thereby bring out the manliness of our sex. Waiuku. H. Cox.