BOY SCOUTS

Southland Times, Issue 17470, 26 March 1915, Page 7

BOY SCOUTS

A XX UAL MEFTIXC* i x rca kg ill d t st r i ct. Tlji- annual meeting of the Invercargill District Organisation of the Dominion Roy Scouts was held in the Floral Tearooms last night, and besides transacting the business the members enjoyed an entertaining social. There wu.s an attendance of about forty members and visitors, and apologies for unavoidable absence were reed veil from Colonels Henderson -and Watson and oilier visitors invited to bo present. Captain W. it. O'Toole occupied the chair, and said that tlo-y would have to crave the indulgence nf tic- visitors while the business of the district was disposed of. The secretary then read the annual report, which stated, inter alia,— it will be noticed by the above that the committee have bad rather a strenuous time during Hie last twelve months. This was chiefly due to the fact that the affairs of the district were in a rather disorganised state; there were no proper-records of the early history of the movement in Invercargill; no proper rolls had been Kept, and no beginning or ending of the linamdal year. However, with the assist, ance of the district secretary (Mr Walker i and other officers, wc were aide to get a fairly clear start from last March. The first business of the committee was to organise the existing officers and to secure tin- services of others to bring lie- eonindiiee and staff np to'the full complement allowed by tin* rule set f-otli in the Dominion Hoy Seoul Handboo!;. Tin- lirst position to be tilled was that of District Commander rendered vacant by tie- promotion of Dr Ritchie Crawford to (lie position of Commissioner for Southland. Captain W. If 1 I'Toole was elected to this position. • >ll l cr vacancies were tilled as follow:—■ Vice-president, Mr I’. Wilcox; laymen on District Committee, Messrs -I. F. McCulloch. F. Click, .1. Fyfe. F. Wilson, I'. W. ITeddv. T Mctiee; examiners cb ie f examiner. Mr A. I’elerson; ambulance, Dr Salt: gardener. Mr T. I >. la-nub-: plumber. A. I’elerson: handyman. \. F- lerson; clerk, T. (!. Lewis (left I: Mi<-man, Superintendent W. Hamilton; carpenter. W. Ashley: photographer, If. A. Fdwards; life-sating, R. Day; cyclist. Captain O'Toole; conk, bugler and musician. Lieut. A. Ferguson: electrician, I‘. Hoteridge ami .1. Spencer; missioner. Xurse I’ryce: bee farmer. L. (iardincr: chaplains. district. Rev, R. M. Rvburn; chaplain Invercargill North. Rev, It. W. P.nrridge; drill instructors. Sergt.-Major Daniels and Col.-Sergt. A, S. A. Mr(iregor; scoutmasters. Rev, Strcete (Invercargill South), Mr F. Kemp i Invercargill Sonth-Kasl). K. Swindels (Invercargill Fast). A. <! Thomson (Invercargill Xorlhi, W. S. Thomson (Invercargill Xortb ), H. Fraser (Invercargill Central), S. Kelly (Invercargill Central), (!. Handseonth (Invercargill Central), 'l’. Fogarty (Invercargill Xortb). Most of the above officers took office about, the beginning of the year, the remainder Icing elected from time to time. Your committee consider that they w"re very fortunate indeed in securing the services of the above gentlemen who have each and all done splendid service and carried out their duties in a most satisfactory manner, 'fie- total strength of till ranks on our roll a't the beginning of the year was as follows: District Cotomand-T 1. chief scoutmasters I. scout masters, distriet secretary and lb non.-coins, and scouts—a total of i 7. Fnndled during the year:—District Commander in place of Dr Crawford (promoted). 12 examiners, il lay members, 2 chaplains, 2 drill Inst rue* »rs. district secretary in place of Mr Mi.'tiker t rcsign'-d). lion, sec., district treasurer. D scout masters, and assislant scon t mast ers. Scouts enrolleil in various troops: Central .'lll. 'ln'gill Xortb |b, In'gill Fast 2b. In'gill S. Fast 2b. In'gill South lb. total staff and lay members 21, 12 scoutmasters 12, X.C.o.'s and scouts 2b.S: total till ranks. 2tl; tts again-t IV in the beginning. DRHAXISATIOX .VXD ADMIXIST RATION*. As it appeared to vonr committee that there was a great lack of uniformity in tin- iii.'iragi inenl, training, and working of the different units in the district, a set of rules we e compiled wherein a uniform system Is laid down for the proper conduct of all business of the l.a-al officers and troops. These rules were submitted |u Hie Chief Seoul l.igul -i 'ol. i’o. grove, V.D., wlio in eu-' dot-slug I )ieiii was pleased to compliment Mo- commit lee on their comprehensiveness and thoroughness. The rules have bc'-it iu operation for some time, and so far are working well. Proper attendance and training report books have been issued to scoutmasters; these monthly returns are handed to the secretary, and come before the committee at the monthly meetings, so that the staff know how

the boys are attending, and what work they arc doing. Training Halls—Your committee wish to acknowledge with thanks the kindness of controlling bodies who have placed the following halls and.rooms at our disposal for training purposes:—Y.M.C.A. meeting room and practice boll, Corporation halls at Avenal and Gladstone, Parish hall, S. Invercargill, Sylvan Bapk Sunday school, Knox Church Sunday school, Disciples of Christ school, Teviot St. Sunday school. Mr Fleming’s cottage at Georgetown, and Mr F. tV. Freddy's tooths in East Invercargill. the work of the Defence Committee was getting very heavy, and also for the purpose of heller administration it was decided to divide Invercargill district into five sub-districts, each under a scoutmaster. So far the idea is working well, and it lias induced a spirit of rivalry between the different units which Is having a good effect. Units and Equipment.—With the permission of the Chief Scout, we have now completed arrangements for tho supply of all scout mateiial from Messrs Hallenstein Bros. Tills will save scoutmasters and scouts much trouble and delay in getting uniforms, etc., and prevent boys who aro not authorised from getting possession of scout material. This step was derided upon as it was considered advisable to gel the sole control of sale and distribution of uniforms into the committee’s hands. Because heretofore boys used to get the equipment from various places, some from local shops, or Christchurch, etc., and thus gradually wo hail uniforms of several colours and quality, and other cciuipment different. The report also dealt with the camps held during the year and tho work done by scouts in assisting various movements. U then went on to state: In conclusion, your committee wish to congratulate all concerned on the splendid progress maclo during the year, ami trust that all ranks will continue to do all In their power to push the movement forward. The groat want at present is scoutmasters, particularly in the south part of the town, whore four at least aro required. It is to be hoped Unit these vacancies will soon be tilled, bcontmaslers are requested to endeavour to popularise the movement as much as possible in their respective districts. The best way to do tills to show tlic public that the hoys under them arc properly trained and disciplined, and Unit scout work does not interfere with a hoy’s home duties, or with schooling, or religions training. Boys must on no account he kept later Ilian 0 o’clock at night. If these rttl.es are acted up 10, no parent need object to his boy joining tin) scouts. Finally, your committee liopo that the work they have done dining the year lias met with the approval of tiie district officers, and that the same good fellowship which has existed in the past will continue. In moving Hie adoption of tho report and balance-sheet, Captain O'Toole. District Commander, said that the difficulty in getting a start had been readily overcome, and they were surprised and gratified at the number of gentlemen who. had come forward to assist. They had been refused nothing they had asked for. At present the boys were rushing into the ranks more rapidly than they could handle them, and lie emphasised tho need for scoutmasters whom, lie said, should be easily recruited in a town tiie size of Invercargill. They did not require a great deal of money; all they needed was a supply of tents which they believed they would be able to provide before next year. The motion was seconded by Chief Scoutmaster A. If. Deed and carried. On the motion of Mr T. D. Lennie the laymen elected last year were re-elected with the addition of Mr MacGregor. The toasts honoured were “The King.” "The Army and Navy" proposed by the Kev. B. M. Kyburn and responded lo by Captains Bell and B. Bennie; "The Officers,” proposed by Mr C. G. Wilcox and responded to by tiie Commissioner <Dr Hitcbie Crawfordß District Commander O'Toole, Chief Scoutmaster A. 11. Keed, Uevs. U. M. Uyburn and E. Streete: "Our Bovs at the Front" proposed by Scoutmaster I'. Swindells and responded to by Captain T. I). Bennie: "The Examiners." proposed by Scoutmaster J. A. B. Walker and responded to by Captain T. 1). Bennie and Sergeant-Major Burns, and "The Press” proposed by Mr F. Wilson and responded to by the representative present. Musical and elocutionary items were contributed by Messrs Bee, Wilcox. Kelly, McGee, W. S. Thomson, A. 11. Iteid and It. B. Armit.