CHIEF OF THE SCOUTS

Southland Times, Issue 17059, 4 June 1912, Page 7

CHIEF OF THE SCOUTS

EXR 3. BABEU-PCVTEIIi'S VISIT. A FLOURISHING MOVKMXXT. PARADE AT INVKRCARGILL. Lieutenant-General Sir R. S. S. HadenPowell, K.C..M.G.. 1M’.V.0., the originator of the Boy Scout movent'-nt, pahl Invercargill a hurried vi-it yesterday. The Weather conditions for ouiside ceremonies were not ail that could ho ile-in d. but there can be n > doc,la of the hearty Welcome) which th - General receiv’d. Never before In lit e history of toe ttation has a .semi-military movement gained so much headway as the IhulcnPowcil Seoul scheme, and the Gctn-r-'l is overflowing with, enthosiasm about it. lie gives great emphasis to tin' fact that it is not only in the British Umpire l.iat the movement has made such, progress, but it is rapidly spreading through nearly every country in the world. He paid a visit to Russia last year, and found that there the Scouts were nlready many thousands strong, althouga the scheme v;:n in its infanc.'. in America, too, the movement is a remarkable success, am! there are now nearlv 400,000 Scouts in the Stales, working Upon similar lines to those in too British Emoire. The General s tour thiough Japan showed that even among.-t the Eastern nations the fever of tho movement had spread, and in Kobo. Vokobanta, and Tokio, there wore I.riti.h troops of Scouts, and the ideas of the scheme were being taken up by me Japanese. Scouts have become familiar with the features of General Baden-Bowed. but to see him in per-on was as a stimulant to a weakened frame. To meet the General, talk to him (ho talked to tnem yesterday l and to receive encouragement from the greatest of the Scouts was indeed a treat, for which it was Worth while suffering the tortures of a cold wind, a sodden ground, and furious onslaughts of sleety rain.

THX CHXar SCOUT’S MISSION. HOW HIS MOVEMKXT IS FROCRISIIIX G. mission,’’ said T.icut.-Ooncrat Baden-Powell to a reporter, "is to see how the Scout movement is progressing throughout the Empire, and I can tell you this: I am delighted with the showing Xow Zealand can make. The tiling to be remembered is that you have the material to work upon —line, strong, ruddy-cheeked lads who will presently become. I hope, your best citizens. My mission, too, is to help them along: hut one of the main reasons for my coming to Xew Zealand was to see how the Scout movement could ho incorporated with the Senior Cadets ; for it is in this way that the movement can be made most useful. The Scouts can enter the territorial army more prepared for duty than are other boys, for no one will for a moment doubt the value of the training they receive as scouts. You see. the new system now operating in the British Army is that discipline should be instilled into the minds of the boys while they are young. Drill comes afterwards to give the necessary military knowledge and polishing off, hut not to give discipline. The Scout movement is essentially a scheme for instilling discipline, and it prepares the boys not only for defence work but for good citizenship. .Each scout learns to play the game for all it is worth, and drill gives an excellent top-ciress:ng. "I am greatly pleased with what I have seen in X'ew Zealand, raid 1 owe a debt to the Government of your country for tire kind facilities granted me in my tour. I am only sorry that my visit b n s been so short.’’

THE EECEPTION. The local Scouts wore much in evidence throughout the 'lay. and during the morning they were assembling from all parts rf the town and suburbs. Despite the distinctly adverse weather conditions the youthful Scouts seemed to he fully alive to the importance of the occasion, and did not evince any discern Torture at the unkindno.-sri of the elements. .

Scouts from TlUiff and Hu it. den were mot at the railway station by a patrol of local Scouts and taken f> Xo, 11 gardens, whence the battalion marched to Rugby Bark, where dinner was provided by the Rugby Union. On behalf Of the boys. Secretary Walker thanked the Union fur their kiniln-ss, and three cheers were given by the boys. At 1.1." p.m. the hoys were a train assembled at the rotunda and, headed by the Hibernian Band, they inarched to Elies Road station. On leaving the express at Eiies Read Incut.-Genera! Beaten-Rowcn, who was accompanied by fidonet i.’o.ssgrove. Commander of tl io Dominion Scouts, and Major Murray, representing tin' officer commanding the .Junior Cadets, was met by the Mayort Mr V.’. B. Scandrett), an ! a number of representative citizen*. After inspecting the Boy Scouts guard of honour, the General and party marched Under escort to the rtire.de gr'iuu.d. headed by the Southland Ripe Band. About throe thousand people witnessed site inspection of Cadets and Boy Scot;t during which the Hibernian L>r-ul played a march. .Mounting the &A' —_. It» front of the grnndbtprd.. z'.w -Worship the Mayor i-sri They had will) them that day E very distinguished soldier whose name, ten or twelve years ago, was on the lips of everyone. At that tim r - they had read the cables eagerly every morning to fmd out if the gallant defender;-; of Mafeking were keeping the Pag living. They had looked upon the oliicer in Charge of that garri -on as a hero, and lie felt that the name of Baden-Rowell would live on account of that great event. The great Boy Scout movement he had inaugurated was one that would be heiicilcia! to the Empire, as it would make the boys self-reliant and useful, and If a war happened ho had no doubt that they would be of help to the soldiery.

Commander Crawford, on behalf of the Boy .Scouts, extended a hearty welcome to their Chief Scout. They knew of the deeds of daring ho had done in South Africa, and .history would assign to General Baden-Powc!! his place in the South .African war; hut posterity would give him ills honoured place as the founder of the Hoy Scout movement. Intent.-General Haden-X’owell, who was received with enthusiastic cheering, said that he was mighty glad to b n there that day, and lie was glad to see such a fine looking lot of bids. I inring his tour of this country he had so-a eh ven thousand lads, and hr, had been impressed by the fact that tin-;.- were a line looking lot. and could bo of great two to the country in l ines of trouble. Tiny had to remember that they had elder brothers and fathers, who had made a g,,, ; i name for themselves during tin- Soup; f, jean war, and the Scouts nsm: remember this and play up to it. He urged them in strive for efficiency and to do Hudr duty. frome of them we;'" a Hit!" dirty dual day: but they bad perhaps come a burg way, and under such, eireunr laiic-- ; they were to be praise I. "Von mi.si," concluded the General, "always aim a: eflieiency. and when you pas ■; o-n. of the Hoy Scouts into the Cad-■ Is renumber that .vou have been Scon: '. Wm n you have passed out of Hie Cadets the Scout law will still lie of good uso to you." Hearty cheers were given for Hi" King, I.lent.-General linden-i ’o well, the Dominion Chi, f Scout, and his Worship the mayor, after which the General hut per motor ear for the railway .station where lie joined Hut HIuU" train. 'The parade state", .are a- follows:--Staff: Commissi:..-uer l-ihiilsirii: I dstriet Commanders Grav-Tord and Shaw; Assistant Commander, Sergeant-.Ma.jor I >;> r;i.■!. =. and District Sicr.dary. d. !!. Wa liter. Bluff troop: Scoutmaster Brmlfdiavr and HI Seoul;.'. Jhnm.sden: Scoutrd.tmlor Kemp and K. See, Ut.i Invercargill; Seoai larh n Haig". Kemp: Serv ant Moffett, -McDonald and Selby and I" Scouts, Total in pa rad '■ The I,umsde:i - p wre; ent-riaiiMcl afPTKe'n lea in the A.'h.M. !p,onr; ai'l'T the parade by Coiniyaader Craw lord ami htafii. AT HLC !•'['. On the arrival of G m ral Tladonrowell at l.luff r:dlv. Ny si-lion, he wa ' met liv the .Mayor (Mr W. Ifineheyi, Captain Xieish. cud a nuialwr of Girl Scouts who. under Hr :r Sc.gt mi- 1 re.-.s, formed a guard of in nr. The General reviewed the girls and ex pi'" d himself as well pleased with their smart appearance. .Mr Hinchcy, on behalf of the citizens oX one of tiro most aoatiiorly outposts of

tho Empire, welcomed the General most heartily. They were all glad, ho said, to mv .such a distinguished soldier among litem, a man who had played a: great part in the history of tho Empire. The town of Bluff was as much interested in the Scout movement as were other place;; in the Dominion. They realised that the movement eaislcd not alone to make the hoys good soldiers, hut to make them good citizens as well. The well trained Scout.; of to-day would ho the efficient soldiers of to-morrow. He tru tod that the General had had a pleasant tour through the country and would leave with a good impression ~f the Dominion. Tlor sooaker conch:.led hy wishing the General 1-ou vpyago.

Lieut.-General Ilnden-Towell said ho had had only a short stay in the Dominion: Put it P.ad i.ecn a very happy one. and lie meant to come hack as soon as he puss' Ply could. It was, he said, the tit'si time he had ever had a guard of young Indies to keep back the crowd, lie yens glad to sec the Girl Scouts, and their turn nut showed that when the Hoy Scouts were away, tho girls could take up their lino when required. He hoped the Girl Seoul movement would continue to prosper as well as that of the hoys, and thus til them all to take up thoroughly and well whatever work fell to their lot. It i ; inst i m pressionof the 'Dominion were, lie said, exceedingly pleasant ones. .After three rousing cheers had been given for Lieut.-General Badcn-Powell, the party moved off to the s.s. Maunganui. ‘When the General had embarked, one of the Hoy Scouts signalled with his Hag the following message: "Now Zealand Boy Scouts wish you God speed.” The General acknowledged tho message, and a final cheer was given ns the steamer swung out into the stream.