SCOUTS, AND CUBS

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1935, Page 17 (Supplement)

SCOUTS, AND CUBS

ACTIVITIES IN TARANAKI. SUCCESSFUL MANAIA EVENT. (By “Ruru.”) Another day of competitions has passed in South Taranaki. One troop of Scouts showed the real side of Scouting by bicycling to Manaia, so that the funds could go towards the fares of the Cubs. Some of the newly formed troops did very well indeed, and one of the best features of the whole day, from old Scouters’ points of view, was seeing and meeting young Scouters who were Scouts under them in years gone by. It was fairly evident that some teams had had a great deal more tuition in ambulance work than others and it is suggested that more use of outside instructors, such as Red Cross and St. John Ambulance members, should be made use of. The most important thing is to stop bleeding and elevating the limb in the case of bleeding was not made enough use of. The- treatment for shock is a very important item that was not made enough of. Stretcher drill on the whole was fairly good but there is room for improvement and the patrol should act as a team and not as individuals. In tent pitching every Scout should have a job and obey the commands of the patrol leader. The tent should be 'spread out and the ridge pole threaded through the holes before the uprights should be attached to the ridge pole. Two Scouts must hold the uprights until the guy ropes are in position. The remainder should be getting the pegs into positions, lacing up the front, seeing that the tent is spread, comer guy ropes off at an angle, middle guys straight out, pegs all in line and driven into the ground at an angle to take the pull. The question of wind and shelter and lay of the ground should be considered. On taking the tent down care should be taken to hold the uprights until every guy is let loose before lowering the tent to the ground. Considering that no patrol had seen the tent before the work done was very good indeed. The word -of command of the patrol leaders in some cases was the cause of many patrols losing marks in physical drill. The lessons to be learned about the compass test are that, although the majority know the points of the compass, quite a number do not know how. to use a compass. The great fault about the distance part of the test is that of the Scout who tried to step the distance given in ..the same number of steps. A hundred yards should be measured off, somewhere near the club "oom, and each Scout should make it a practice of counting the number of normal paces it takes to step the 100 yards. Scouts should remember that as they grow so will the length of pace alter. In artificial respiration the handling o. the patient is very important and it is advisable to send for a doctor as well as to treat for shock. Care should be taken to clear the mouth and pull the tongue forward, before commencing to

restore breathing. Some patrols were inclined to work too fast at the actual movements of restoring breathing. One thing that must be remembered in an actual case is that in no circumstances should the promotion of war. ith be commenced until it is certain that the patient is breathing. The patient should be carried head down to allow any water to drain out of the lungs. Practice is what is wanted in signalling. Slow and sure in sending rather than speed with errors should be a good slogan for the signaller. When teaching semaphore, always teach by the circle method, otherwise some of the most important parts of the signallers’ alphabet are left out. The correct method of writing a message down is a point that wants more attention. The main thing about lashing is to see that each turn and trapping lies in its

correct position and should be pulled tight. The half hitches that finish off on : the outside should be in their /natural position. The legs should be off the per- ; pendicular one in six whether in feet or inches. In patrol marching tire, work of command of some of the patrol leaders was , poor and the lads with high school training showed up to advantage in this test. In the Cub events forming circle and howl was very well done. The test is something like play acting, and the six that won this test showed to advantage in the interpretation of the various char- ■ a c t er:! - In walking the plank each Cub should be taught to be confident in himself, and 1 have a good sense of balance and when jumping to the floor to land with the ■ knees pointing out, so that there will be J no dahger of bumping the chin. There

[ should be no need to touch the floor l with the hands. I Skipping seems to be the stumbling ■ block of the majority and it is suggested ; that in future the standard should be the same as it is for the star test, namely 30, and that each Cub who reaches that ; standard should get full marks for the actual skipping with extra points for , style, breathing, etc. Plenty of practice and practical use of ; knots is what is needed in some cases, : although the standard is very high. Cubs ■ probably rely on their eyes too much, ■ and should practise knot tying in the dark. It is certainly harder but makes . one think of what one is doing. I There were good results in the first aid i test, only Cubs are reminded that they ■ are not doctors and must remember to • treat for shock as well as to send for the ; doctor- ~

The signalling judge suggests that more use should be made of senior Scouts as instructors for this test. The compass test was well done and there was not one. that received less than 60 marks. The North Taranaki district is holding its competitions at Waitara to-day for- the Soffe Cup for ambulance work and .the ■ J. K. Hawkins Cup for the champion Scout. As this is the first attempt it is : hoped that it will be successful, and that it will be an annual affair in the future. '■ South Taranaki Cub and Scout officers as well as Scouts have been invited idattend.