SCOUTMASTERS SCOUTED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18851, 2 May 1923, Page 8

SCOUTMASTERS SCOUTED.

NO CONFIDENCE IN ’ LOCAL ASSOCIATION. DRASTIC NOTICE OF MOTION. The annual general meeting of the Dunedin Boys Scouts’ local association was held in the St. John Ambulance Rooms last night. Scout-commissioner W. Fleming occupied the chair. . . , The annual report was submitted by the Secretary (Mr D. H. Rogers). . It read as follows: Since the last annual meeting there have been several changes and a considerable, amount of work and anxiety for th© executive. As most of you are aware, both the dominion rally and the officers’ training camp at Christchurch had to be abandoned. This was rather unfortunate, particularly so oa regards the training camp, which would have formed an excellent opportunity , for officers to exchange views and pick up hints from one another. It was decided to hold our own peace flag competitions on November 25, December 2 and 9 last. The various events were keenly contested, Roslyn Troop securing pride of place, with Mornington second. The Mayor having kindly offered to present a trophy to the troop gaining the greatest number of points between July 1 and November 30, peace flag point to also count, Roslyn again secured the verdict. The same troop won the football shield presented by Messrs Garden, Gridgemaa, and Hay. During tho year the Y.M.C.A. held two arts, crafts, and hobby shows with Scout sections, Roslyn ’Droop being once more the most successful competitor among the Scouts. During 9pril this year we had the pleasure of a visit from General Andrew, who e'ent three days in Dunedin, and went into Scout matters very thoroughly. Ho visited nearly every troop, arid in addition gave an. excellent address to members of the executive and Scout officers. As you aro no doubt aware, Captain Cossgrove has resigned. the position of chief commissioner, and General, Andrew, - has promised to carry on the work for at least scims time to come. As he is a strong' believer in personal inspections, we may look forward to the pleasure of seeing him again at no far distant date. As is inevitable with all bodies such as ours, there have been several changes since last meeting, amongst which might bo mentioned the loss of Mr J. Hay, a valued member of the executive, who, with •i-u , has gone to Canada,; carrying with him the best wishes of all Scouts with whom he was in contact during his-stay in Dunedin. Mr A. G. Holdernefla has fohnd it necessary to resign the position of district scoutmiujter owing to lack ,of time to devote, the duties. He will, however,’ continue to act as scoutmaster of the Mornington troop a ”“ ° th f r capacities, so his services are not wholly lost to tho association. Mr T. H Jordan, who has bad many years’ experience of scouting m England, ..has been good enough to accept; the vacant position of district scoutmaster, and "may be sure of the loyal support of all Scout officers The W , Waa , held in Christchurch commissioner (Major Fleming) being unable to attend, the -chairman of the executive (Mr -A. N. Chadwick) Orf Tl? POI i ted from Dunedin. worth i l , . TIOC P Leader Duckworth, of the St. Clair troop was instrufnn at s? T g B Mr Pork * s fr ° m seff V? 4, 01alr ■ B f ach at sreni risk to himthe Js! immediately brought enU headquarters, with the refP lip 4 J™ 01 * ~L ? ,a dcr -Duckworth received the fughesfc award the association can bestow Lnto° nZ %i, CrOSS ’ and an ' illuminated ' ,u Tt o“ e ' wcro Presented by his Excellency the Governor-General during his Ann! 0 to % S T lt troo Pa in Dunedin on EJ°;. Tr^ P Leade f-D’ttckworth was also banded an autograph letter from his Excelkney regarding his gallant action . n?^ ry ,- 6ald that the total receipts to lOd Thele Wa ® ttUB a balanoe of

The Chairman moved the adoption of the b? n Mr W P °H r T sf moti ? n was seconded dLussiom - GardCn ’ 211111 carried without

~M t, A -, H - Chadwick submitted a report of the business done at tho annual conference held in Christchurch last week.—A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Chadwick for his interesting account of what had taken plo,cp at th. 6 conference, Mr Holderness said that ‘all the local troops .were working well, and that the officers were also very keen on their work, w Eoslyn, Ocean Beach, .North Dunedin, Eavensbourne, and St. Clair were all going ahead, and they had more members .than they had a year ago Unfortunately the Y.M.C.A. had fallen through., Ihc thought /that a special vote of thanks should bs given to Mr Gridgeman for keeping the North Dunedin Troop going. - P’rOctically the whole of the troops, with tue exception of the Y.M.C.A., had held camps in some place or other during the Christmas and New Year holidays, and in spite of the very wet weather he understood that they had been very successful. It was decided to rescind the rule ft the association under which ono-tenth, of the net profits of any troop entertainment should ho to the. local association. It was also decided that the annual levy of 2s Gd per patrol should be rescinded, and that in place thereof the annual levy be 8s por patrol of eight boys, or less, where patrols of eight are in existence, or 6a per patrol of six boys, or less,. where patrols of six are in existence, or Is per head. ! The, Chairman refused to accept a motion from tho Mornington Troop Committee in the direction of doing away with a paid secretary, os the size of the local association and the number of troops did not warrant it. The Chairman said that notice of motion should have been given. .

The Chairman also declined to permit the meeting to appoint tho chairman of the executive. He said; that the executive would do this.

The following office-bearers were finally elected:—President, the .(Mr it. L, Tapley); , . vice-presidents—Hon,. \V Downie. Stewart, Hon. C. Bj Statham, Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., and Mr J. S. Douglas; committee —Major Dampen, Scoutmasters D Dorman, A. H. Holderness, W. H. Garden, W. M’Pheat, Messrs A. Grubb, and A. H. Chadwick, Mesdames R. S. Glcndining, and J. K. Macfie.

Messrs Gudgeman and Holderness refused to accept nomination on the committee, as tfyfey said they were not satisfied with the rulings of the chairman at the meeting that night. Mr Chadwick said that he had been chairman of the executive during the past year. He said that they must recognise that the Local executive must rule. The scoutmasters could not dictate to the local executive. The executive did not want to dictate to the scoutmasters. Th© scoutmasters wanted to dictate to them, but they could not do it. Mr Dormkn wanted to reply to Mr Chadwick, but the Chairman retused permission. Mr Dorman: I would like to move a motion of no-confidence in the chairman. — ("Hear hear.”) > Mr Holderness claimed! that there must bo a majority of scoutmasters on the executive. Th© Chairman said, that the committee aa nominated was appointed. ' The Chairman; Is there any further business.

Mr Holderness: Have you got a majority 'of officers on the executive? The Chairman: I have declared the executive elected, Mr Holderness: You can’t do that. You read out that half the executive must be scoutmasters. Mr Gudgeman suggested that thoyt should break up the meeting altogether. The Chairman: I cannot allow that. Mr Holderness. said that ho would give notice—" That ‘ the commissioner for tho Otago district bo asked to resign.”—(Applause.) Mr Garden said that they. must havo enough men on the executive who knew something about scouting. What was tho use of having an executive, that was no good ?

The Chairman said that they could not discuss that, aa the executive • had been elected.

Mr Garden said that a civilian, executive could not carry on th© movement. It would fall to piece®.

The Chairman again, read out th© executive as nominated.

Major Dampen deplored th© position which had arisen Ho really thought when he had com© to tho meeting that ne was to attend a very hapy gathering. He had found however, almost a tragedy. He must admit that he could not see daylight. They seemed to be at daggers drawn. Unless they oomxodeship the movement was going to get a

•Iho chairman said that there was no doubt that the executive would do evoi V ° thing to carry on. If they had the helo of well 30 " n ° d ° Ubt lile >’ wnJd do Major Dampen said that unless they got the support of the man who fired the g g U n M y v n not eomg to get, much former Mi Holderness said that no one regretted the positton that had arisen more than ho did. The association, however, during the past year had done nothing. Anythin!? itv.t had been brought forwarder ig bSffifol the troops had been brought forward by Iho scoutmasters Not a single scoutmaster had any fault to find with tiio chairman of the executive (Mr Chadwick The scout masters, however, objected tc.being told that they must not meet to talk tilings over itvon if there wore no association the scoutmasters would carry on-(applauae)-as they did in the old days, when'tho movement was far bigger than it was now— (Apnlausß t Mr Holderness then said that he would accept nomination on the executive Mr Dorman, who Tiad previously’ declined nomination, said that he, too, would go on

the executive if they got a chairman who would give him a fair show. After further discussion Mr Dorman moved that Mr Chadwick be asked to resign as chairman of the executive. The Chairman; You cannot do that. Finally H. C. Brill, T. Baird, and H. Smith, withdrew from the executive, and Scoutmasters Dorman, Holderness, and M'Phcat were elected in their place.