EARLY SCOUTING DAYS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 89, 6 July 1927, Page 14

EARLY SCOUTING DAYS

THE CHIEF SCOUT’S VISIT The following interesting letter, which comes as an echo of the early days of scouting, was written by the Chief Scout to Colonel Cossgrove, alter his visit to New Zealand in 1912: “My dear Colonel Cossgrove, —I have greatly enjoyed my very short visit fo New Zealand, and am most gratified oy what I have seen of the Boy Scouts. Re scoutmasters —I had feared, on coming here, that since the Government have taken in hand the training of all boys for defence purposes and their practice in discipline, there could be little need for the continuance of the Boy Scout movement; but now I see that it can be of the greatest value in developing, as heretofore, the elements of good citizenship among the boys, and in helping the defence training by giving the lads a real grounding in manliness and sense of duty, woodcraft and discipline such as are essential to making efficient defence soldiers. So there is a big future still before the movement. I realise now better than ever the immense amount of selfsacrificing work which you personally must have put into it in first organising the movement. I congratulate you and those working with you on what you have so successfully accomplished in getting it on to so well.,established and successful a footing. I have every reason to hope that, since this good work has won for the movement a high place in the public estimation, a means will be found for utilising it in co-operation with the State measures for training the rising generation of citizens. I am very grateful to the Scoutmasters for bringing so fine a lot of Boy Scouts on to the parades for my inspection. I was much struck with the general physique of the boys and with their evident good discipline and efficiency. I am very glad to find that in spite of the apparent clashing of the Cadet movement a number of the smartest troops have lost neither officers nor Scouts. This generaly speaks to the true keenness of all and a good example from the Scoutmasters and those at the head. It has been a very real pleasure to me to meet so many and so efficient and loyal a lot of brother Scoutmasters.

“Regarding the patrol leaders and Scouts, I have been particularly pleased to hear of the many cases of gallant conduct of Scouts in saving life and also of their general good conduct and useful work done for other people. The patrol leaders seemed to me particularly smart, well set-up fellows, and able to command their patrols well. I was also very pleased to see so many badges of efficiency among the Scouts and to find that they do not care to remain long as tenderfoots, but they work hard and get their second and first-class Scout badges. I have never before seen so many King’s Scouts in one troop as I have seen in several of the troops in New Zealand. His Majesty sent out a flag to be carried by the troop which has the most King’s Scouts in it in the year. It will, I am sure, greatly please His Majesty when I report to him what a large number of King’s Scouts he has in this Bominion. I am very sorry that I had not time to see the Scouts at work in the field. A march past does not show one nearly enough what they can do. Still, I saw enough from their strict smartness in saluting their officers when off duty in the streets to show me that their discipline was very good and that they are honourably trying to carry out the Scout law and their doity as Scouts.