A PLEA FOR THE BOY SCOUTS.

Southland Times, Issue 17469, 25 March 1915, Page 2

A PLEA FOR THE BOY SCOUTS.

To Hie Editor. Sir,—Will you. through the medium of your widely read paper, allow me to offer a. plea for financial help to the Boy Scout organisation in this dominion. During the past six and a half years the training of over 16,000 of our boys lias been carried on entirely without monetarv help from the Government or Hie public. Practically Hie whole cost of carrving on this great and useful work lias been borne by the boys themselves and their Scout officers. Although Hie proportion of Hoy Scouts to Hie population is smaller in Great Britain than it is in New Zealand, Hie public there, realising Hie great national value of Hie movement for the training of its youth, lias subscribed nearly £IOO,OOO to its funds. America lias done even more. Italy lias nationalised it. while Africa, India and Smith Australia have granted Government subsidies. I mention these fuels to show that the movement i-s universally acknowledged to lie educative and patriotic, ami therefore worthy of support. Of late years the movement lias grown so rapidly here that the dominion council lias found it impossible to carry on the work as it should bo. it therefore decided. on the recommendation of the Wellington committee, to appoint Mr G. A. Hurley to canvass Hie dominion for funds to enable it to place the movement upon a better footing, and make it even more useful than it is at present to the dominion, and further to have ready amt at its hand a large body of weil-lraim'd. trustworthy lads, wild would lie of real service in times of peace or of war. in the [last, thousands of our boys have rendered serviw in rescuing life and property from loss by firo and water, in rendering first aid to the injured, in assisting those in difficulties. and in performing acts of kindness without reward, while their scrvk“s during tlie present crisis have, been invaluable to both defence and ciwl authorities. Although Hie movement is a non-military one, it is acknowledged by the Defence authorities to lie of great, assistance to them, for it leys I!io very foundation of a soldier's training, namely, discipline and character, it was for tliis reason that .Sir Robert Haden-Pa well recommended Hoy Scout training as a substitute for Junior Cadet, training, and if Hie Do-' fence Department was wise it would go a step farther and substitute it for the Senior Cadet training also. With Hie exception of military drill and rille exercises Hie Boy Scouts arc taught all that the Cadets are taught and a great deal more, and with Hits difference, that the I'ormer aro taught under compulsion while Hie latter arc voluntary, keen and enthusiastic learners. The Boy Scouts excel because their motto is "Nothing hut Hie host,” and their great ambition is to be considered worthy of responsibility. The Hoy Scouts of England have been able to render signal service to Hie Empire because they wore prepared when the crash came, Wo want to thoroughly prepare the Scouts in New Zealand, too. for war and Us aftermath will surely require their aid. Should all our Territorials be called away In defend Hie "Colours" or our shores. Hie Hoy Scouts, if properly trained, could lake up the duties of at least Tper cent, of them for a time. They could guard our railways. wharves, public buildings and telegraph lines, police Hie towns, act as firemen, carriers, post arid telegraph assistants, chauffeurs, hospital ami siiop assistants, clerks and typists, farm hands, dairymen, blacksmiths. saddlers. carpenters, shoemakers’ assistants and so on: for tltere are few industries or handicrafts carried on in the dominion that are not covered hy the programme of work drawn up for Hie instruction of Boy Scouts. It is estimated that the sum of £2OOO will enable the council to carry on the work for a period of three years, paying an officer to devote his whole time to organisation and supervision, and who would lie able at a moment's notice to detail two or ten thousand reliable lads with their officers, ready to do Iheir very best for Hie public good. "Patriotism" is their watchword. To patriots, therefore. I appeal. Donations and promises to this fund will lie received and acknowledged hy tho fol|..winf; : —AIr G. A. Hurley, financial organiser; Mr John I’. Luke (.Mayor), Don. J. G. W. Aitken. M.L.G., and Air r S Baldwin, care of I’O, Box 9S, r ., Wellington; Dr Inglis. Latimer Square: Co,<in u Creswoll. Cashel street; Kir Cecil Moon. Fcndalton: and Air Gooclbarrister and solicitor, Cathedral Square. Christchurch.—l am, etc., D. COSSGKOVK, Lt.-Cok, Dominion Chief Commissioner.