SCOUTING’S GROWTH

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1935, Page 10

SCOUTING’S GROWTH

30 PER CENT INCREASE IN YEAR. ACTIVITY IN WEST DISTRICT. A record increase in the number of Scouts and Cubs in the South Taranaki district is revealed by the census returns for the year ended September 30, issued by the secretary of the South Taranaki Association, Mr. E. M. Bardsley. The growth was specially noticeable in the district between Hawera and Opunake, new troops having been formed ,at Normanby, Auroa, Pihama and Opunake. During the past year the number grew from 373 to 482, an increase of 109.

The commissioner, Mr. F. W. Horner, last week expressed the hope that during the coming year troops would be formed at the centres between Hawera and Patea. At every centre where a Scout troop was in existence there was also a citizens’ committee of parents and others interested which met regularly and exercised oversight over the work of the troop and the appointment of suitable officers. During the year, certain members of the Hawera branch of Toe. H formed themselves into a Rover crew to . train as Scout officers as a practical way of expressing their desire to give, useful service to .the .community, said Mr. Horner. The requests that were being made for thd formation of new troops indicated an appreciation by parents and others interested in youth work of the value of the Scout system of training and showed that the work of the Scout officers, troop committee and other helpers was producing definite results and commended itself to the community.The census with figures for last year, isfc—

Ohura a> O .. 1 13 5 o W 13 3 o 12 V) 3 £ 26 Toko .. 5 18 14 37 Stratford .. 4 22 18 44 Eltham .. 3 23 15 41 Normanby .. 2 12 14 28 Hawera .. 10 40 30 86* Manaia .. 5 30 22 57 Otakeho ... 1 10 — 11 Auroa .. 2 11 11 24 Piharria ... 2 10 —— 12 Opunake .. 5 23 18 46 Pa tea ... 6 33 14 53 Waverley 1 ......... ... 1 14 — 15 District ... 2 — — — —, ■ ■■ -. ■ —— • Total .. 49 259 168 482 —. ——- ————- ■ —• ■Census 1934... ... 35 187 142 373 «• — — — -1 ' - —■ .. 14 72 26 109 *The Hawera. total includes six Rovers.