BOY SCOUTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14580, 20 July 1909, Page 5

BOY SCOUTS.

. I Sin,—Some months ago I sent, you a . | letter on the above subject which you , kmdy inserted, ami r.s a result I received , inquiries from a number of boys, and one or two ;>entlcmen, but with the exception j of one—.\!r C'arr, 343 George street—none v has taken up the work seriously. Kindly ; allow mo at;aiu to call upon all those iii- ( forested in tho welfare of our boys to help , on illis noiv world-wide' movement. It ; seems strange that Dunedin, which has 5 always prided herself in leading in every ' ;;ood work, should ha so slow to help on -_ one of Iho best movements that has ever ' been tried for bringing boys under good inliucnces and for keeping ihem there. It ; may be that the scheme has not been placed before rhc people in n prop"? way. Lot inc say at the outset thai the scheme is non-military, and makes for peaceful ; ■' citizenship. It is the duty of the scout) Io revive chivalry, self-saeriliee, kindness, I •' generosity, politeness, obedience, discipline, ! '- and cheoriness. lie promises on his honour ' 3 (o ho loyal to Coil and the King, to help \ others, whatever it costs iiim, ami to obev I " the scout law. whicli emphasises loyalty t'o j v country and employers, duly before any- - thing else, friendliness to all men, courtesy I 0 to women and girls, obedience to orders. s cheoriness under all circumstances, and '• abstinence, from drink, tobacco, and bad e language. He takes special care of his own health, as a. sick scout w only in the o way. He goes in for physical culture and !- sleeping in tho open, and thus builds up a i- good physique, lie learns all there is to s know about woodcraft, pioneering, and ;• watermanship. He can rescue fho drown- )- ing, render lirst aid, nurse the sick, cook '- j u good meal, hold his own with his hands d or with a weapon, lie becomes, in fact, I, a, lynical, handy man. His motto is "Be

prepared." He loves peace, but, uhonhl ho be forced to defend his homo or his country'js Hag, he is always ready to do i* 'i'ho training he receives in oliorvarii'ii i'ud iloilm'tion lita hint tor any position in life, even that of a, first-class spoilt in time, of war. Ono important 'feature, of tlio scheme is thai every hoy, when lie become-; u. scout, is put on bis honour, aw! is trusted. This raises the boy's own n'frespect—the lirst step towards reclamation with many a hoy. It is now 12 months since I lirst 'm-ougbt General Baden Powell's scheme before tlw public of Ihi.i Dominion, and, though Duncdiii has done liltlo in the way \-t organising patrol?, with I lie exception already mentioned, upwards of 1500 nun and hoys in various parts of ths country are ontliiisia.stica.lly following the wcii; as detailed in his book. '• Scouting for Beys." There are hoys in Walker street. in North-East. Valley, in Kensington, and St. Clair, as well as many in the city, who are crying out (or men to come and help them. Will not, some of the many clever, clear-headed young men in Dmiedin como forward and help those lads? 1 shall ho delighted to givo any help I can in tho way of instruction to those willing to help if they will communicate with me, or Colonel Snow, commander of the South Island Lesion, and tho lieadouarlers secretary. Mr Babcock, care Y.11.C.A., Ciimtchurch, will bo plcassd to 'answer any questions that may be asked.—l am, etc., D. CossOßOvk. Major, Dominion Chief Scout, Tuahiwi, Christchurch.