SCOUT MOVEMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18254, 24 November 1933, Page 10

SCOUT MOVEMENT

MEETING OF COUNCIL CONTROLLED TROOPS (Fur Press Association.) ('HEISTGHUECH, last night. The advisability of having controlled troops in the Boy Scout movement was one of the chief topics considered by the annual meeting of the Dominion council of the Boy Scouts' Association to-day. After considerable discussion tin' council atUnned the principal of having controlled troops, only one member dissenting. The. chairman of the council, Mr. J. R. Kirk, presided, and others present were:- Dr. G. Femvick, Chief Commissioner. Bishop Brodie, Colonel Crcsswell, Dr. F. J. Jermyu, Major C. T. Tatum, Major Furby, and Messrs. W. H. Montgomery, J. B. Middleton, A. .7. Mclldowney, Cl. IV. Bishop, 11. G. .J. Goodman. Messrs. C. D. liardic (Christchurch) and A. F. A. Woollams (Wanganui) were elected to the council. Mr. Kirk was re-elected chairman, and Messrs. Middleton and Hardie were elected to vacancies on the executive committee.

Proposed amendments to the policyorganisation, and rules were referred to the Dominion executive. Dr. Fenwick said lie was in favor of controlled troops of Scouts, but he ! was very much against the Scout , movement being used to force boys into any particular church. Boys should be encouraged to go to church, but the Scout uniform should not be used as a pretext to get them there, lie had no objection to churches organising controlled troops, but the . boys would have to do their Scout work. VISIT TO JAMBOREE The Rev. W. 11. Orbed moved that the council affirm the principle of controlled troops. He considered the continuation of such troops important to the success of the movement, i Mr. Montgomery said he saw no advantages in controlled troops over t open troops, and in his district, Christj church, they had caused more trouble I than open troops. Difficulties had I arisen through those in control insisting on members of the troop attending church parades. He admitted that such a course was carrying the i controlled troop system to extremes. | Dr. Fenwick said that as long as ■ controlled, troops carried out their 1 scouting, religious activities might be j left to those in charge of them. If j they did not do Scout work they could I not remain in the movement. He j thought controlled troops should be ’ permitted. J The motion was carried, Mr. Montj gomery alone dissenting, i" Bishop Brodie expressed appreciaI tion of the encouragement liis church j had received in establishing troops, ! and said he hoped to see hundreds of j troops throughout New Zealand, j It was decided to appeal to the j Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. j J. A. Young, for a grant of £250 to j finance the visit of a party of Scouts jto Victoria for the Centenary jamj boreo in 1034-35.