SCOUT NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 22013, 12 May 1933, Page 5

SCOUT NOTES

(By “Pathfinder.”) Winton Troop. Winton troop put on an excellent concert last Saturday night. Failure of the lights delayed the commencement of the programme, but the large audience present thoroughly enjoyed a “community sing” in the dark. The items of the concert were crisp, entertaining and original and the scouter and scouts alike are to be highly commended. Supper was much appreciated by all. Several car loads of scouts from different parts of Southland attended the concert, including three cars from Invercargill. Particularly commendable was the hike of Rovers Wallace and Johnstone from Invercargill. Despite the fierce storm these rovers, who are going strong for their rambler’s badge, refused several offers of a lift. An important meeting of scouters is to be held in St. Paul’s schoolroom on Wednesday next at 7.30 p.m. to discuss the organization of city troops, appointment of district scoutmaster, and the proposed Invercargill concert and sports meeting. The strong forward movement in scouting throughout the country districts has not been accompained by a similar development in the city, and this must be remedied. Will any scouter who is unable to be present at the meeting make a point of seeing that his troop is represented. THE SCOUT LAW.. (1) A Scout’s honour is to be trusted. (2) A Scout is loyal to the King, his country, his officers, his parents, his employers, and those under him. (3) A Scout’s duty is to be useful, and to help others. (4) A Scout is a friend to all, and a brother to every other Scout, no matter to what social class the other belongs. (5) A Scout is courteous. (6) A Scout is a friend to animals. (7) A Scout obeys orders of his parents, patrol leader or Scoutmaster, without question. (8) A Scout smiles and whistles under all difficulties. (9) A Scout is thrifty. (10) A Scout is clean in thought, word and deed. THE “SPIRIT” OF SCOUTING. The Scout Promise and Law reveal the “spirit” of Scouting, and herein lies the most important responsibility of the Scoutmaster. If the Scouts see real Scout ideals in the Scoutmaster, if they get the ring of sincerity in his words and deeds, if they recognize him as a true Master Scout, his influence for good is limitless. Scrupulously carrying out the Law

himself, he will find that his boys will follow him.

A Scoutmaster may be good at games, singing, drilling, tracking, etc., but if he fails to get the right “spirit,” as implied in the Promise and Law into his community of assistants and boys, he has entirely missed the whole purpose of Scouting.