BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3614, 19 June 1923, Page 49

BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT.

SIR ALFRED PICKFORD’S TOUR, In the course of a short conversation with a Daily Times representative yesterday, Sir Alfred Picaford said he was very anxious to help to push forward the Boy Scout movement. The belief had been expressed by many people that it was one of the great hopes oi the world, and it had certainly been a wonderfully etiectrve method of bringing about good citizenship. It was a non-military movement, and there was no concealed militaristic motive behind it. The law to which the Boy Scouts subscribed would show that the movement was making for better relations between men and nations. It was a world wide movement, in which 49 nations were actually interested, counting the British Empire as one nation. The public generally were not taking the interest in tile movement that they, might reasonably be expected to take, considering the great benefits to 'be derived, both from the individual and national point of view. The officials at the head of the movement hoped the people would realise that they had taken up this important work with the object of promoting good citizenship, and that it was the duty of every community to give them sympatny. men, and the comparatively small sum of money that was required to carry on the work effectively. “We think,” said Sir Alfred, “that this is the finest insurance policy the public can take out against the forces of anarchy and destruction.” Sir Alfred Pickford went on to express his admiration of the Boy Scouts in New Zealand, but said he would like to see a greater number of lads taking an active part, in the movements. The number of Scouts in the dominion was about 60OG. whereas there -w ere probably about Ihc - 0 who were at an ago -.hen they could derive the greatest benefit by being actively associated with the work. Owing to the apathy prevailing generally’, however, an enormous number of boys were missing the benefits of what had been the finest educational system ever devised. The hoy’s were suen a. splendid asset that it was surely worth while taking really good care of them. Those in charge of the movement were doing wonderful self-sacrificing work, and were entitled to all the sympathy and encouragement they could get. A HEARTY WELCOME. There was a large attendance at the civic reception which was tendered to hir Alfred Pickford in the Town Hall at noon on Thursday, the Council Chamber being well filled. The distinguished visitor, received a very hearty welcome, and in all probability his tour will lead to a great increase in the interest taken in the Boy boout movement. The Mayor (Mr Tapley), Mr P. R. Sargood, Sir George Fenwick, and Major Lam pen all extended a hearty welcome to Sir Alfred Pickford, and hoped his mission every success. Sir Alfred Pickford, who. was received with hearty applause, said he wished to thank them very sincerely on behalf of himself and Sir R. S. Raden-Powell, whose messenger he was, for the very kindly welcome he had received. He found it a little difficult in a place oalled Dunedin to feel that he was a stranger iri a strange land, as he was educated in “Auld Reekie,” and the surroundings of both seemed to have a familiar resemblance. One of the tasks set him by the Chief Scout was to try to strengthen the link that bound the Old Country to the overseas dominions through the Boy Scout movement. He had found that, hi 3 task in that respect was not difficult. He thought the overseas section realised, as they realised at Home, that it was impossible to run the Scout movement from London. At all events the authorities in London were not foolish enough to try to run it from there. Tire link binding them was an enormously important one, as the movement now passed beyond one of Imperial character and had assumed a world character. It had two million members spread over 49 nations, > n ] that was counting the British Empire as only one. That hail been accomplished because 14 years ago the Chief Scout gave

the world something- that it was badly looking for. These countries had taken up the movement because they instinctively felt that it was something that could be adapted to any nation wishing to take. reasonable care of its young citizens. The world at large applauded the Boy Scout movement, but at the same time it really knew very little about it. The movement had neon described by one high educationalist as one of the finest educational systems ever devised and by another as a revolution in educational methods. If these views were even partially true the suggestion that, the movement savoured of militarism was merely stupid. Those connected with the movement were not running a hobby of their own and thereby using up some of their spare time. They were aefuallv the agents of the community and particularly of the parents, ministers, and school teachers, in taking up the most important work of safeguarding the future citizenship of the rising generation. He believed it to be not only the finest educational system ever devised, but the best-balanced. It catered for four aspects of life —the physical, the mental, the moral, and the spiritual. It was non-military, non-class, non-sectarian, non-political, and non-racial! It brought together peoples of all classes, and thus engendered friendliness that was a cheek on fighting. Boys and girls wero not naturally snobs. In one camp in England he had Oxford undergraduates and Yorkshire coal miners on strike working harmoniously. Although the movement was non-militaristic the Boy Scouts would be in the forefront of any fighting if any part of the Empire was attacked, that being due to their patriotic sense of duty.—(Applause.) So non-militaristic was the movement that, its leaders stated that if the world at large would give the movement the support which it deserved it would take a valuable part in creating an atmosphere that would make war impossible, because the people would not want, to fight each other. The troubles from which the world was suffering never emanated from the young people, and it was not until the grown-ups put hatred into the minds of the young that trouble began. In support of the claim that the movement was a non-class one, Sir Alfred stated that snobbishness was impossible to anyone who grasped the ideals of the movement. There were hundreds of troops throughout the world where there were no class distinctions. Although the movement was non-sectarian it. was not nonreligious or irreligious. Its policy was that each boy was expected to belong to some religious denomination, but no scoutmaster was allowed fo interfere with the religion of the boys. Sir Robert Baden-Powell was a deeply religious man, and not fool enough to try to supersede, revealed religion by the religion of nature. They were doing vital work, in which the community must be interested, and they asked for sympathy, men, and money. They always got sympathy when the people understood the work they were trying to do. There were an enormous number of men who were young at heart and who could assist the movement.

The number of scouts could not Ire increased till there were more scoutmasters. The Chief Scout had fixed the number of a troop at 32. He himself could manage only 16, but ho gave other men credit for twice as much brains. In this movement they could be doing something for the country, the Empire, and the world, and they would be doing it in a most enjoyable way, from which thov would derive great satisfaction. He appealed strongly to the citizens to use their influence in trying to get the youngish men to support the movement. If they could get enough self-sacrificing young fellows, they would have something like 20,000,000 scouts instead of the 2,000.000 they had to-day. They wanted money, but not a great deal of it. There was no policy of insurance that the business men of Dunedin could take up more cheaply, and that was more worth w’hile than to give generously to this movement. —(Applause.) The Mayor said he thought they should extend a hearty welcome to Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P., who was accompanying Sir Alfred Pickford on his tour of the dominion. _ Mr Isitt. and General Andrew had put in /• tremendous amount of voluntary work in connection with the movement', and he thought the people owed them a debt of gratitude. Ho had pleasure in extending a hearty welcome to Mr Isitt. Mr Isitt said he was in this movement for the moral and spiritual uplift which he believed it would give to the young people. Even if he had no enthusiasm in that direction, he would recognise the truth of the last statement made by Sir Alfred Pickford. This movement was an insurance movement, and if the people did not wake up to the fact that there were influences at work that threatened the very stability of our civilisation, they must be very blind. He recognised in this movement, the only practical w r ay of counteracting the socialistic Sunday school. They wero threatened with an influence that was a menace to civilisation, and one that sought to destroy its foundations and the bright young citizenship and life of the country. The fact that the Boy Scout movement was counteracting this influence was the reason he was in it for all he was worth. The gathering concluded with the singing of a verse of the National Anthem and three hearty cheers for Sir Alfred Pickford. ROTARY CLUB LUNCHEON. Immediately after the civic reception Sir Alfred Pickford proceeded to the Savoy, where he was the guest of the Rotary Club j at its weekly luncheon. There was an excellent attendance, and the chair was occupied by Sir George Fenwick (president of the club). Amongst those present were Messrs L. M. Isitt, Major Fleming (Scout ! Commissioner for Otago), Major Lampen (district chairman), Mr P. R. Sargood, and the Mayor (Mr Tapley). In the course of a speech which was much on the same lines as that given by him at the civic reception, Sir Alfred Pickford appealed to the members of the Rotary

Club to get behind the Boy Scout movement and assist it practically and financially. Mr Isitt gave a very fine address, in the course of which he emphasised the need of money lor, carrying on operations throughout Ne.iv Zealand. He suggested that the business firms might assist the movement by contributing so much per annum, and mentioned that two or three of them were already doing so. Mr Isitt also mentioned that the movement was being heartily supported in Christchurch. INSPECTION OF SCOUTS. Probably one of the most interesting and most enjoyable events in connection with Sir Alfred Pickford’s visit here was his inspection of the Boy and Girl Scouts in tho Kensington Drill Hall in the evening. There was a good turnout of Scouts, and a fairly large number of interested spec tutors watched lhe proceedings. There were about 500 Scouts on parade, representing the Rcslyn, Moniington, South Dunedin, Ocean Beach, Raveiisbourne, and Mosgiel Boy Scouts and the Roslyn Girl Peace Scouts. The last-named body was nearly 30 strong District Commander Jenkin was in command, and amongst those present were Major Fleming and Major Dampen. Sir Alfred Pickford, who received a very hearty welcome in true Scout style, made a thorough inspection of lhe troops, after which he made a brief address to those present. A lew gramophone records, one of which conveyed a message from the Chief Scoutmaster, were listened to with keen interest, after which Sir Alfred and his youthful audience proceeded to practise a few Scout songs and calls, much to the gratification of the children.

A very pleasant gathering was brought to a conclusion with three cheers for Sir Alfred Pickford.