BOY SCOUTS’ ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21773, 12 October 1932, Page 12

BOY SCOUTS’ ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL REPORT The annual 1 report of the metropolitan secretary of the Boy Scouts’ Association, to be presented at the annual meeting tomorrow evening, states: — During the year we have had a number of changes. Mr Meek, after seven years’ service, resigned the position ,of metropolitan commissioner, his resignation being received with regret. Mr Meek did great service for the movement in this district. For . some considerable time we were without a "metropolitan commissioner - , and then we had the good fortune to secure the services of Mr D. A. Solomon.

The committee met regularly every month, and a large amount of business was dealt with. One special meeting was also held during the year. Two months ago the Rotary CJub offered the services of two- of its members for the council. This offer was accepted. During the; year the-D.S.M. of- the Southern Division resigned, and S.M. Gumming, of the Caversham Group, was appointed to -fill the vacancy. The district officers have done work, in both divisions. In addition to the two D.C.M.’s, it was found necessary to appoint an extra one, and D.C.M. Livingstone being duly appointed, with a Rovering commission. The: district officers of both divisions have done excellent work during the year. During the year we have had the misfortune to lose a few of our first class S.M.’s, who were transferred to other parts of the Dominion. As formerly, we are still feeling the want of senior officers, but hope in the near future this shortage will disappear. This division now numbers 26 troops. Monthly meetings of Scooters have been held regularly, the attendance averaging 16. Over 120 warrants have been presented during the year. Four new troops have been added to the register—Knox, Y.M.C.A., ' Waikouaiti, and Central. The Port Chalmers Troop has now been converted into a Sea Scout Troop and is now known as the “Terra Nova’ Troop of Boy Scouts. This troop is the farat troop of Sea Scouts to have a Rover crew. Country troops,;; as reported, are doing well. At pi’esenj two of our local troops are giving-some concern, as we cannot obtain officers for them. One is being kept alive in the meantime by a leader who is doing splendid work, the other is being kept together with the assistance of another troop. This division now numbers 18 packs, and monthly meetings have been held regularly. Another new pack ,is now ready for registration. Excellent work has been done by the officers. The average attendance at the monthly meetings is 12. Seven warrants have been presented during the year.! Two new packs have been added to the register —Knox and Central. A Rover crew has again been started under the leadership of , Rover Leader Pirrett, who has joined up again, ine work of the crew is going on apace, and it is hoped soon to have a supply of officers who can take charge of troops requiring S!M.’s. ..... ■ „ A new addition to our activities is the holding of officers’ training camps,, and it is a very necessary one. Commissioner Macgregor has been appointed training officer by Dominion Headquarters. A camp will ’:'be held at the end of J this month, and it is to “be hoped that as many officers as possible will take advantage of this training course.

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE,BRIGADE. The St.-John Ambulance Brigade has supplied fiach of our troops with an .. instructor. j.. -- , ';••• During: the past year we have had a hard straggle’to make ends meet. For the last-two years we have had no outside assistance,, and-must now rely on opr cwn,- efforts to collect enough to keep us going! The great increase in the number of our troops, packs, and Rover crews has increased the work considerably, and must of necessity make our expenses greater. Our only income is £49 10s debenture interest, plus a few donations. We are endeavouring to collect from old subscribers, but so far the response has been poor. This, ho doubt, is owing to the state of affairs; at the present time. We purpose to secure honorary members, at, say, 10s Cd per annum and subscribers at 5s per annum. If a sufficient number could be! obtained at those figures we might haveenough to carry us bn and save us from financial worry. . *. During, the year a few parades have, been, held—Ahzac Day and one or two church parades—all of which, have, beeh well, attended. The Scouts have assisted at several collections and drives for tpe distressed, and their work has beta greatly appreciated by those societies they assisted! A few leaders’ socials and. combined socials have been held, and have proved successful. The rally held last Saturday, at Logan Park'proved a huge success as far as the display of the Girl Guides, Scouts, Cubs, and Rovers were concerned, but when everything is squared up there will not be a very large credit balance. The cup competitions were;!held as usual during the year—ambulance, signalling, and pioneering—and the displays were highly complimented by the judges.