SCOUTS OF THE EMPIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21137, 21 March 1932, Page 6

SCOUTS OF THE EMPIRE.

r £ YEAR OF PROGRESS.

AID IN NATIONAL CRISIS.

PRINCE'S RALLYING CALL.

In the course of an address at the annual meeting of the council of the Boy Scouts' Association, which was held in London in January, the Chief ScoiVi, Lord Baden-Powell, in referring to the economic depression in England emphasised the part that Scouts could play in helping to biing about better times. "We in the Scouts," he said, "must therefore carry on our work in an optimistic frame of mind to help in what way ,w e can to bring back prosperity through the oncoming generation. In spite of the depressed state of the country there has been good progress all round in the Scout movement in training the boys, both at home and overseas. Our numbers have increased by 51,000 in the past year and this is the more remarkable as there has been no outstanding boom in the movement during that period. The increase in numbers and efficiency [had been even more marked in the overseas Dominions and Colonies, the speaker gaid. Since his recent visits to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa he had received letters recording further remarkable developments in those countries. In India an increase of about- 10.000 had brought the numbers to 73.000. "One verv encouraging fact that has impressed itself upon me is that, besides all this progress in numbers and efficiency, there is a marked increase in the feeling of mutual brotherhood between the younger sons of the different States of the British Commonwealth, and this augurs well for relations." Mentioning the Prince of Wales' broadcast appeal for special efforts from members of youth organisations and more .voluntary service from the public, the Chief Scout said:— "The Prince of Wales has sounded a spirited rallying call to the youth of our nation to come forward and serve her in the time of our adversity. We in the Scouts, as well as the Girl Guides, may feel glad that we had already undertaken national service in the existing emergency, just as we did on the outbreak of the war. The most impeliing spur to action is a definite objective lor one's services. This, we have now in our country's critical economic state just as we had in the national danger of the Great War. The Scouts were on that occasion the nrst in the field to render help behind the scenes. So, in the present difficulties the Scouts have been utilised in various ,ways. The movement has also been thanked by the Empire Marketing Board for its work in promoting the Buy British' campaign." . The Duke of Connaught, who is president of the association, was unable to be present, and forwarded a message of congratulation on the progress made by the * movement. He also wished to congratulate Lord and Lady Baden-Powell on the unexpectedly good results that followed their tour of New Zealand and Australia. "The present world total of over 2,039.000 Ocouts, together with the rapidly-increasing growth of the Girl Guide movement abroad, cannot fail to produce within the next few years a palpable leaven of citizens, impregnated with the spirit, of mutual friendliness, which should have its contributory effect in maintaining the peace of the world," the message stated. It was reported that at the end of the 1931 Scout year the total number of Scouts in the 45 countries recognised by the International Committee was 2,039,347, an increase of 168,033 over the world total for 1930. Scouts in the British Empire accounted for 808,307 of this number, an increase of 51,424. The total of 457,477 in Great Britain and Ireland showed an increase of 19,379 and the total of 347,492 in other parts of the Empire an increase of 32,152. British groups in foreign countries accounted for 3338, a decrease of 107.