BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20113, 26 November 1928, Page 10

BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT.

INCREASE IN NUMBERS. A large ipcreasp in numbers since last year is recorded in the annual report of the Boy Scouts' Association, presented at the annual meeting held in Wellington on Saturday. A Dominion census, taken in September, revealed a total increase of 510, and the total strength was now 11,043. Although this increaso was not as great as during the previous year, a gratifying feature was thp increase of 183 in tho warranted ranks.

Tho formation of a new Scout district in Southland, and the addition of many troops to tho existing centres, was an indication oi tho more widespread interest being taken in the movement from one end of the Dominion to tho other.

In the Auckland Central District yery considerable advance had been made in many directions. Tho new district, commissioner, Mr. W. J. Holdswprth, had taken oflico on August 8, replacing Mr. Grigsby, who had 'retired after a long term of service with the Scouts in the district, during which lie took a keen interest ill district affairs. Long-service meijals iiafj been granted to the following mptnbprsMrs. A. 15. M. Houghton, St. Aidan's Pack; Air. N. M. St. James* Troop j njid Afr. A. J. Veart, assistant commissioner for Cubs. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £3434, including a sum of £3OOO in tho reserve account.