WORLD'S BOY SCOUTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20827, 20 March 1931, Page 8

WORLD'S BOY SCOUTS.

INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP.

TOTAL OVER TWO MILLIONS.

[FROM our own correspondent.]

LONDON. Feb. 7.

Lord Hampton, in llie absence of Lord Baden-Powell, presided, at the annual meeting of the Council of the Boys' Scouts' Association.

A message was read from the. Duke of Connaught, the president, in which he expressed his pleasure that the returns for the past year had shown such a steady increase in numbers and efficiency. "Most especially," he? said, " is this the case in India, where the increase this year has been 25,000, in spite of the unrest and local difficulties. In the Punjab alone there have been more scouts in camp than ever before." Lord Baden-Powell sent a message commenting on the gratifying increase in the number of scouts in India, in spite of political unrest there. The annual report showed that in 1930 there was an increase of 123,502 scouts on the world total for the previous year. This brought the present world total up to 2.031,274, while the number of scouts in the British Empire was 756.883, an increase of 66,297 over the total for 1929. Great Britain a.nd Ireland were reported as having a total of 438,098, an increase of 40,450. Colonel A. D. Aeland, treasurer, said that for the first time for many years there was a slight deficiency of receipts in comparison with expenditure, due to the steady growth of the movement. The vear's accounts showed an expenditure of £23,540, which exceeded the income by £lls. He hoped that during this year steps would be taken to bring the needs of the movement before testators. At Lord Baden-Powell's request, the choice of a successor as Chief Scout, when that office should become vacant, was discussed, but no definite action was taken. It is definitely understood that there i® no suggestion of Lord Baden-Powell resigning.