BOY SCOUTS

Southland Times, Issue 20794, 7 June 1929, Page 3

BOY SCOUTS

COMMITTEE MEETING.

ORGANIZATION ARRANGEMENTS.

Lengthy discussion regarding the organization of the Boy Scout movement took place last evening when the District Committee met in St. John’s Hall. The District Commissioner, Mr W. B. O’Toole, presided over a fair attendance. Two letters from the secretary, Mr George W. Ford, were read by the District Commissioner. The first letter was as follows :

“I . hereby tender my resignation as district secretary of the Southland Boy Scouts District Committee. When I offered my services to you as secretary of the District Committee 1 did so under the impression that. I could assist in re-organizing the scout movement in this district. Although I had never been actively associated with the boy scouts I considered that with my knowledge of secretarial duties, the work that I was prepared to put into the organization would materially assist you and go far towards placing it on a sound basis. With this object in view I devoted a considerable part of my spare time to corresponding with troop secretaries and scout masters, and endeavoured to interest them in a simple method of dealing with matters pertaining to their troops. The effort was met for the most part with failure, and I can honestly say that the only troop business that received prompt clerical attention from troop secretaries was that relating to exemption from military training. Your description of the movement as it functioned in pre-war days, and the spirit displayed by the scouts at that time, is, I am Convinced, not true of the troop officers to-day. I made a most persistent effort to justify my position as a district secretary, but nine-tenths of my correspondence and the simplest instructions relating to procedure were ignored. The result has been keenly disappointing. The efforts you have made in connection with the movement, and the invaluable assistance accorded by the Rotary Club are deserving of infinitely better results. So far as I am concerned I have other and more satisfactory interests, and I regret that in the circumstances I must ask you to accept my resignation.” The second letter, written at a later date, was read as follows: “I have been thinking about our conversation subsequent to the meeting held recently dealing with the Boy Scouts, and as. I understand another meeting is to be held I would like you to correct an allegation that was apparently made to the effect that much of the trouble experienced was caused by ‘red tape’ methods adopted by myself, as secretary to the District Committee. If the application of the very simple regulations issued by headquarters for the guidance of troop secretaries and scoutmasters is to be regarded as an adoption of red tape methods I plead guilty, but headquarters apparently consider a certain course of procedure to be essential to secure order, and a district secretary really has no option but to apply the regulations. The trouble appears to be that scout troop officials did not make themselves conversant with the simplest requirements. The regulations were all I had to guide me, and I 'most emphatically resent the statement that I made us of what is generally understood as ‘red tape’ methods. My opinion of the matter is clearly set out in my resignation. I trust you will have a successful meeting and that the finest movement existing for the character building of boys w’ill flourish in the district. The chairman said that he had put the matter clearly before Mr Ford and had told him that the movement must go on. Mr Ford had agreed to continue in office if the meeting decided to request him to do

A motion was put and carried without dissent, asking Mr Ford to reconsider his decision to resign from his position as secretary. . The District Commissioner said that it might help towards the smooth working of the movement if there was a better understanding of the duties of the various officials. He then read paragraphs from the rules dealing with the duties of different officers, and different points in the rules were discussed. Mr C. Watt said that he considered that the quickest way to get at the bottom of the trouble would be for the secretary to be supplied with the names of those on the troop committees. He could then write to the members and arrange for meetings at which the Commissioner could attend. Mr O'Toole said that the scouters should make themselves conversant with the rules. A member suggested that a member of each troop committee should be appointed to the district committee.

Mr O’Toole: No, I would not agree to that.

Mr G. Dorman: The Boy Scout movement should work from the bottom up and not from the top down as is done here. A scouter suggested that a member from each committee should have a place on the district committee and the Commissioner said positively that he would not have that. That is not the spirit of the Boy Scout movement. The top of the movement is at the bottom; the Commissioner is the servant of all and should endeavour to work with everyone. I do not blame Mr O’Toole; I blame the regulations. After a discussion regarding the meetings suggested by' Mr Watt, the names of secretaries were taken with a view to calling the meetings. Mr Dorman said that he would suggest that a meeting of the District Committee and all officers should be called to discuss the affairs of the movement.

Mr O’Toole said he thought- that such a meeting would naturally follow after the meetings between the troop committees and the Commissioner.

Mr Dorman again brought up the question of having scouters on the District Committee and Mr O’Toole read from the regulations to show that scouters could not be appointed to the committee. After further discussion Mr O'Toole explained that scoutmasters and cub masters were members of the committee ex officio, and the matter was dropped. Mr O’Toole said that he wanted some arrangements made regarding the suggested meetings between himself and the troop committees.

Mr Watt mentioned the necessity for assistant scoutmasters, and said that they should try to encourage the right class of young men to assist the movement.

Mr O’Toole said that the committee would welcome applications from young men desirous of becoming assistant scoutmasters. They would be required to parade with their troop once a week for at least an hour, and to take an intelligent interest in scouting matters. Arrangements were then made for the meetings between the Commissioner and troop committees. VISIT TO WYNDHAM. A DAY IN THE OPEN. (Contributed.) At last the eventful day dawned —June 3. The night before barometers were consulted hourly; the opinion of every member of the household was sought as to the prospects of the weather; preparations were in full swing; lunch had to be cut to save time in the morning; the alarm clock must be set fully two hours before the starting time and then—bed. Why did not sleep come as usual? Before dawn he awakened suddenly—it was, then, only a hideous dream, the bus had not left without him. To the window he rushed. Yes, fine it was. What a relief! Running down the street, chewing his last mouthful of a somewhat hasty breakfast, he saw the bus, the centre of attraction of some 30 or 40 neatly uniformed Scouts like himself, all keenly waiting for the start and counting the minutes as they went by. What was that notice tacked up on the lorry? A reward for the discovery of treasure stolen in Invercargill and planted near Wyndham. At Wyndham it was found that a party had set out for the hills at 9.30 a.m. in possession of the treasure which they ob-

viously intended to hide in some secluded spot. Unfortunately one of their number was delayed in the township some half hour after the departure of his accomplices. However he was instructed to follow up the signs and tracks which would lead to the robbers’ rendezvous. This he accomplished, but did not trouble to obliterate the signs that he had followed for he was in complete ignorance of the presence of troops of Boy Scouts in Wyndham. Immediately’ upon their arrival in Wyndham, the Scouts, thirsting for the revenge of so daring a robbery, picked up the signs that the last robber had so carelessly left and were soon hot upon the trail. Over hill, through valley, and onward the chase led. It soon became known that the captors were to be rewarded by the treasure. One patrol, perhaps a little keener than the rest obtained the lead and by making false signs completely misled the remainder. The robbers, now some five miles out of Wyndham and quite confident that they were free of danger, pitched a tent, placed the treasure inside and prepared to camp for the night. Suddenly, seemingly from nowhere, the pursuers descended upon Ihe robbers', bound and secured them, and seized the treasure. With due solemnity the casket was opened, and found to contain some of the best- apples seen. These were hastily consumed and the captors feeling tired from their run and sleepy from overeating, generously consented to release their captives on condition that the robbers drove them back in the nearby’ car which they had used in their nefarious crime.

'When the news that the treasure had been discovered reached the other patrols, all adjourned to the Recreation grounds for the mid-day meal. During the interval, the newly’ formed Wyndham Scouts took the opportunity of doing some “cooking.” Through the influence of the Wyndham Troop Committee, the Recreation grounds were secured for the afternoon's programme, and this, impromptu as it was, proved most successful. Under the command of the O.C. for the day, Scouter J. L. B. Snell, of Wyndham, the items were given. St. Paul’s gave a haka, Gladstone an exhibition of ambulance work, St. John's an exhibition of semaphore signalling, and last but very humorous Wyndham, led by Scouter Dorman, entertained the spectators with some scout games. Finally all indulged in games, and the rally finished by a grand patrol howl. Hoarse from singing on the journey, the scouts arrived home happy, content, and very' tired. Troops visiting the Wyndham Scouts were Gladstone, St. Paul’s, Georgetown, St. John’s, of Invercargill, and Gore. This visit, though hastily organized, proved, if only by' intercourse with others, of infinite value to scouts and scouters, and by the interest it created, should give an empetus to the movement.