BOY SCOUTS

Southland Times, Issue 18927, 28 April 1923, Page 13

BOY SCOUTS

ANNUAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATION. VALUE OF SEA TRAINING. SPEECH BY LORD JELLICOE. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 24. The annual meeting of the Dominion Council of the Boy Scouts’ Association was held to-day, the Governor-General, Lord Jellicoe. presiding in his capacity as Dominion Chief Scout. In opening the proceedings His Excellency said he was pleased to see so many present at the meeting as it was likely to be a very important meeting in the history of the movement. It was no use blinking the fact, he said, that the movement was not in as satisfactory a position as it should be. It had been said the Dominion was studded with the relics of dead troops, but that could not be said to be satisfactory. One of the causes of this was the fact that the movement was inclined to be a “one-man-show.” There were not sufficient understudies to the scoutmasters. In the speaker’s experience of fife a “one-man-show”—no matter how excellently it was managed—was a mistake. In the English constitution stress was laid upon the importance of scout committees and on the assistant scoutmasters. He realised the great difficulty there was in this Dominion in getting scoutmasters and assistant scoutmasters. They did not “grow in every bush.” It was a lot to expect from a man to give up the necessary time to the movement, and more honour to those who did so. He hoped more men would «oma forward for this important work because unless they did so, the movement must die. There were other reasons why the movement was not in d satisfactory condition. More propaganda was necessary, and, if the press of the Dominion could be induced to stress the value of the movement, it must in time filter through the country. Much good could be done through various clubs such as the New Zealand Club and the various Rotary Clubs. He realised the financial difficulties which the authorities were faced with. His Excellency referred to the various criticisms which he had heard in connection with the movement. These included:—(1) Difficulty in getting replies to representations; (2) Absence of visits to local troops by headquarters, and (3) Too much centralisation. He did not endorse these criticisms, but he certainly favoured decentralisation as far as possible. His Excellency expressed his regret at the decline of the Sea Scout movement. Six months ago he had every expectation that the movement would make rapid progress, but such had not proved to be the case. Six months ago he had ordered a silver trident from Home to give as a trophy to the best sea scout in the Dominion. Unfortunately, this was still locked up in Government House as there were not sufficient troops to compete for it. Sea scout training should have in it a considerable element of sea training, and the troop at the head of the Dominion should comprise boys who were really imbued with the sea spirit. They should to a certain extent, be boy sailors. His Excellency said he looked to sea scout training and the as-

sociation of the boys with boats and the sea to imbue the youth of the Dominion with the sea spirit, which he looked upon as essential to the British Empire. It was no use looking to Britain to always staff the Navy and mercantile marine because the time was not far distant when the Dominion must take its part in this important work.

Regarding the proposed visit of a Dominion troop to England in 1924 to attend the Imperial Exhibition, His Excellency said he hoped this would be made possible, as it would be a big thing for the movement.

The balance sheet showed receipts (including the balance of £950 19s 10d brought forward) to be £3,255 os 8d; the expenditure has been £2,502 13s, leaving a balance of £752 12s 8d; liabilities were £96 7s 8d and the assets amounted to £849 Os 4d.