THE BOY SCOUTS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10762, 9 May 1911, Page 2

THE BOY SCOUTS.

To the Editor.

Sir. —There is a very obvious inclination just now to ascribe to the "Boy Scouts" any act of vandalism and ex-' ample of larrikinism for which, the author is not immediately discoverable. Now, while it is the purpose of the organisation to which these boys belong to train them so that they may become useful, to make tliem amenable to discipline, and, above all. to encourage in them good conduct, the fact that they don occasionally a Baden-Powell hat and a khaki jumper does not qualify them as angels. ' But the Scoutmasters are moulding them to the right shape —the shape that will fit them as good" citizens. They have no direct hold over their charges, and cannot interfere with their liberties or dictate their course of action off parade. So that, if at any time boys belonging to the troop should descend to larrikinism, at such times they will'not do so in their capacity as members, for the whole spirit of the movement deprecates such conduct, but ,• as free' agents. I should like to say to mothers and fathers of boys in No. 4 Troop that the absurd rumors circulated about that" unit have no foundation whatever in fact. —I am, stc.. NORTHERN STAR.