THE CHIEF SCOUT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22026, 5 February 1935, Page 11

THE CHIEF SCOUT

' ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND BOYS' WELCOME HAKA PROGRESS OF MOVEMENT GOODWILL AMONG NATIONS ■Maori and' pakeha Scouts from Whakatane performed a rousing haka on Prince's Wharf yesterday morning , to greet the Chief Scout, Lord BadenPowell of Gilwell, when he arrived by the Aorangi'from Sydney for his third visit to New Zealand. The welcome typified the devotion of boys the world over to the founder of Scouting, and showed, if further proof were needed, how well the movement is based on knowledge of the boy mind. Lord Baden-Powell is accompanied by Lady Baden-Powell, World Chief Guide, and their two daughters; Colonel Granville Walton, representing Imperial Headquarters., and Mrs. Walton. Large delegations of Dominion and • Auckland Scout and Guide officers were on the wharf to meet them. The New Zealand Chief Scout Commissioner, Dr. P- C. Fenwick, of Christcliurch, was unable to be present, but he was represented by the chairman of the Dominion Council, Mr. J. R. Kirk, of Wellington. Mr. F. W. Sandford, of New Plymouth, the veteran Dominion chief of training, who, although over SO years of age, is still doing valuable work for the movement, greeted the leader, from whom he had parted twice before in the belief that they would n ot meet again in this world. Local officers included the Auckland Metropolitan Commissioner, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth; the City Commissioner, Mr. A. Service; and the honorary secretary for the metropolitan district, • Mr. J. P. Middleton. Welcome to Chiet Guide Ladv Baden-Powell wq.s welcomed by the Dominion Chief Commissioner of Girl Guides, Miss Ruth Herrick, of Hastings; the Auckland 'Provincial "Commissioner, Mrs. R.. J. Coates; rind the Commissioner for Training, Miss A. M. Bui-gin. The Scouts performed their haka on the balcony of one of the wharf sheds, and Lord and , Lady Baden-Powell watched them from the liner's boat deck. Three Maori boys, girt with flax piupius, led the dance. When it was over the Chief Scout called his thanks and advised the boys to go and have breakfast, as he intended to do. However, they had already breakfasted in their camp, at Orakei, and remained to do more hakas on the wharf until there was an opportunity to inspect the liner, a noval experience for country lads. Lord Baden-Powell, who has come to New Zealand mainly for rest and trout-fishing;, declined to be interviewed. However, lie authorised Colonel Walton to say that he had looked forward eagerly to revisiting the Dominion and catching some of the excellent flsh which he had been unable to go after when he was last here. He had been greatly impressed by the fine New Zealand contingent at the Melbourne Jamboree, where the spirit of friendship had been strongly manifested. Recent Eastern Tour Speaking' of the Chief Scout's present Empire tour, Colonel Walton said that rallied had been held at all ports oi call after ieaving, England, including Gibraltar, Toulon, Alexandria, Aden, Colombo, Singapore, other ports in the East Indies, Port Darwin, and Thursday Island. The mixture of nationalities was remarkable. In Egypt the Scouts* included British, Egyptians, Greeks, Armenians, and various nationalities from Palestine. At Aden, there were British, Somalis and Arabs all nixed together. The Scouts at Colombo presented a pageant ■of the history of Ceylon, with songs Bnd a procession in native dress. The Melbourne Jamboree, at which he had represented Imperial Headquarters. was the first held outside Europe, Colonel Walton said. Although it' was not so large as some earlier gatherings, 21 countries were represented by 11,000 Scouts. The whole affair was most successful. Scouts of all nationalities mixed with the greatest friendliness and the hospitality of the Australian Scouts and the general public was wonderful. Future Engagements - in New Zealand Lord Baden-Powell would undertake no public engagements apart from attending rallies in the four centre's. Colonel Walton said the duty of discussing administrative and other questions with local officers of the movement wculd fall upon himself, and for that purpose he would visit the four centres and a number of other towns. Leaving Wellington on March 19, Lord Baden-Powell would inspect Scouts at Rarotonga and would attend rallies at San Francisco, Seattle and all the principal cities of Canada. At the close of his Canadian tour he intended to go fishing in Newfoundland.'After that he would probably attend s. rally at Washington in July, and proceed to the World Rover Scout "Moot," or conference, at Stockholm, going on to a South African .Jamboree. This would give him "an opportunity to visit his son, the Hon. Peter Baden-Powell, who was an officer of the Rlhodesian Police. ITeed for Scoutmasters The Scout movement was spreading steadily throughout the world, Colonel Walton continued, and now had a membership of 2,250,000 iiri 44 countries. The rate of increase in the number of Scouts depended upon the supply of new scoutmasters. This admittedly was a problem, but with the growth in numbers of Hovers —Scouts of 17 years and over—more and more scoutmaster material was becoming a.vailable. Of the 44j000 Hovers jn Britain, 10,000 held warrants as scoutmasters. Training and administration were now well stabilised and it had not been found necessary to make any notable changes in recent years. The basic principles of the movement were being strictly adhered to, and no compromise had been made with the militarism.- imposed upon youth movements in Italy and Germany, or with the State atheism of Soviet Russia. Consequently, there were no Scouts in those countries. On the other hand, Scouting had received the cordial benediction of the League of Nations as a force for the development of personal character, good citizenship and international goodwill. The Lea gue had also helped the movement hv urging Governments to arrange reduced fares for Scouts and Scoutmasters travelling to attend gatherings.