SCOUT NOTES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19455, 14 October 1937, Page 9

SCOUT NOTES

GET YOUR BOY WHY SCOUTING APPEALS THE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP (By “Scoutcr”) I do not in these “hints” propose to teach my grandmother to suck eggs, and, therefore, I only address them to those who have had little or no previous practice in teaching boys, or who wish for explanations with which to meet criticisms or inquiries into the scheme of teaching and training boys. When you are trying to get boys to come under good influences, I have likened you 10 a fisherman wishful to catch fish. If you bait your hook with the kind of food that you like yourself it is probable that you will not catch many—certainly not the shy, game kind of fish. You therefore use as bait the food that the fish likes. So with boys; if you try to preach to them what you consider elevating matter, you won’t catch them. Any obvious "goody-goody” will scare away the more spirited among them, ana those are the ones you want to get hold of. The only way is to hold out something that really attracts and interests them. And I think you will find that Scouting does this. You can afterwards season it with what you want them to have. First Step the Hardest In order to get a hold on vour bovs you must be their friend, but don’t be m too great a hurry at first to gain this footing until they have got over their shyness of you. The following is an example: A man whose daily walk took him down a certain dingy street saw a tiny boy with grimy face and badly developed limbs playing in the gutter. The man nodded to him —the youngster shrank away in terror. Next day the man nodded again. The boy had decided there was nothing to be afraid of, and simply spat at the man. The following day the little chap only stared. The day after lie shouted "Hi!" as the man passed. In time the little fellow smiled back at a greeting which he now began to expect. Finally, the triumph was complete when the boy —only a tiny chap—was waiting at the corner and grasped the man’s fingers in his dirty little fist. It was a dismal street, but it became one of the very brightest spots in the man’s life. So don’t forget, the first step is always the hardest; after that it is only a matter of time, if you are, as I mentioned before, a good fisherman, until you will have (he respect and confidence of your boys. Ruatoria Troop Visits Tolaga Bay A visit was paid b.v the Ruatoria troop to Tolaga Bay last Friday evening, 24 Scouts making the trip under the command of their scoutmaster, Mr. Little. The first item on the progi-amme was tea, which had been arranged by the ladies of the Tolaga Bay committee. and which was appreciated by all, judging b.v the emptiness of the plates at the finish! The programme was a varied one, consisting mainly of inter-patrol games. Miss Atkinson, instructor to the Tolaga troop, conducted community singing, and an enrolment of five Scouts was taken by the commissioner, the Rev. N. F. Bonham, and several Scouts were presented with their first year service stars. The evening concluded with an excellent supper and a short camp-fire. Mr. Little, in thanking the Tolaga Bay people for their hospitality, emphasised the value of such combined parades in developing the spirit of brotherhood between Scouts of different places. Mangapapa Troop Owing to the inclement, weather last Saturday, instead of outdoor scouting, the Mangapapa troop spent the afternoon at the Scout Hall, various games being played, followed by some practice in lashing ana trestle building. In the evening there was a good attendance and some good work was put through, signalling, ambulance and tenderfoot work comprising the programme. A ballot was held to choose the patrol leaders for the Lion Patrol, E. Doherty being successful, and JMurphy being elected second. Another Wolf Cub came up to the troop from the pack, and lie was received with the usual honours. Mangapapa Wolf Cubs The Mangapapa Wolf Cub Pack held its usual meeting on Saturday afternoon and, despite the wet weather, there was a good muster. Under the guidance of Mr. H. Richardson, a good programme of first and second star and tenderfoot work was put through. The boys are very keen and are working hard to prepare themselves for the bigger game of scouting. Y.M.C.A. Troop On Friday night the Y.M.C.A. Troop had a special parade to attend the Captain Cook Memorial at the Trafalgar Rotunda, 1 17 Sicouts turning out, which was very good considering the short notice given. The weekly parade was held on Saturday night, when a fair number of Scouts listened to the Scoutmaster, Mr. A. Williams, talk on the Panama Canal, after which an hour of Scout work was done under the patrol leaders, and the final halfhour of the parade was devoted to charades and Scout games. The troop was dismissed after an enjoyable evening. Gisborne Scouters’ Association On Tuesday evening the monthly meeting of the Gisborne Scouters’ Association was held in the Y.M.C.A., the members present being Messrs. T. D. Baker, D.S.M., chairman, Messrs G. H. Foote, A. Williams, A. Livingston, J. Marsh, and L. W. Anderson, hon. secretary. Apologies for absence: were received from the Rev. N. F. Benham, and Messrs. J. Kays and 11. Richardson. A discussion took place on the rally to be held at Tolaga Bay on October 25 (Labour Day), and it was decided that with the co-operation of the local executive it should be gone on with. Tlie transport would be left in the bands of the secretary. It was also decided to ask Commissioners W. A. Burns, Gisborne, and 11. Hyde, I Wniron, to act as judges for the Scout events, and the Rev. N. F. Benham, Coast Commissioner, to judge the Cub | events. The announcers will be Mr. O. James, Tolaga Bay, and Messrs. Maginnity and Anderson, Gisborne will be stewards. A short talk on the Christmas camp was the final business.