The Boy Scouts

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143771, 20 April 1912, Page 4

The Boy Scouts

By Scoutmasfef

I District Commissioner, Mr. F. Cl. Kimbell, H;uvera ; District Commander, Rev. J. A'.* Kempthorne, New Plymouth ; District Secretary, Mr. J. R. Sullivan, New Plymouth; Inspectors, Major F. AV. Sanclforcl and Air. G. MGahey ' Scoutmasters, Messrs. J R. Sullivan, N. R. MTsaac, H. Y. M'Gahey, S. L. AA’eller, A, R. Gibb, and Rev. &• F. Robson (New Plymouth), AV. H. Humphrey and J. Kennedy (Inglewood). CENTRAL BATTALION. Church Parade.—To-morrow the Central Scouts will parade at St. Andrew’s Church. Scouts will muster at the club-room at 10.15 a.m. They ;*tust come in uniform, but need not bring staves. Address on Fiji.—Rev. J. AAL Burton will address the Scouts in their clubroom next Thursday night at 7.30. He wishes all Scbuts to prepare questions to ask him. Picture Entertainment.—Air. G. Saunders has very generously offered to assist the Scouts by holding an entertainment on Tuesday week. It is hoped that the Scouts will push the sale of the tickets. Funds are required for uniforms, and if a troop is taken to assist in the great rally to 8.P., further funds will bo required. Progress.-—Sergeant-Major Bruce and Lender Drury successfully passed the tests for their ' ambulance badges. Scouts C. Boswell, H. Elliot and N. AVinter have passed the tests for second class badges. MEETING OF DISTRICT COMMITTEE. A well-attended meeting of the committee was hold last Thursday night. The chief matter discussed was the sending of a troop to AVellingion to assist in the celebrations in hdnour of “8.P.” It was decided that scoutmasters be given a free hand in the matter. Scouts are therefore expected to qualify for first class badges, AVith a little effort a decent troop can be sent from New Plymouth. THE CHIEF SCOUT. GENERAL BADEN-POAVELL’S VISIT. DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME. Colonel Cossgrove, Dominion Chief Scout, has received tho following letter, dated A r ancouver, March 14, from the founder of the Boy Scout movement, General Sir Robert Baden-Powell, who is on his way to New' Zealand to inspect the Dominion Boy Scouts and Girl Peace Scouts. Sir Robert has asked Colonel Cossgrove to make known the contents of the letter to the Scout officers at the centres which have been included in the Chief Scout’s itinerary:

“I am looking forward very much to seeing your Scout officers and Scouts, and to hearing from you any suggestions or questions which you ma/ have to put to me. ,In the meantime, there are one or two points which 1 would like to put before your Association.

‘•'l am travelling with "a view to getting some rest and change, needed after heavy work at home. I am, therefore, obliged to ask to be excused all tho entertainments and receptions which have been so generously offered to me. I should feel very gratified if you would kindly let this be generally known. I can only undertake the actual inspection of Scouts and some lectures to explain the movement. 1 am particularly avers© to reception on arrival, or guards of honour or escorts, and I hope that Scoutmasters will, therefore, not trouble to turn out their boys.

“In explaining the policy of the movement to the public, I propose to show that our primary aim is to make the boys into young backwoodsmen and good citizens. AVc do ttol go in for military training any more than we do for a religious one. These points we leave to otheijs. At the same time our practical development of ‘character’ in the boys lays the groundwork of manliness and sense of duty, which is tho essential and only basis on which all these other developments can successfully be produced.

“Tho Socialist and Labour leaders now recognise that we arc not hostile to them, and are non-political, but merely want to give the poorest boy a fair start in life. , And the heads of almost all religions denominations are on our council and approve our nonscctarian attitude.

“These are points which I often find are not sufficiently known, and which I will enlarge upon in the lectures which I have already arranged to give; they might, therefore, well be promulgated before my arrival. I only hope that educationalists, and gentlemen likely to be interested and useful to the movement, will bo moved to attend them, as this method of getting their practical sympathy Has had very successful results in America.

“As regards the programme of inspection of Scouts; I am delighted to see anything that your Scoutmasters caro to show me (except military parades or drills). I look upon the patrol ns the unit, and the patrol lender as the responsible officer, and I parry out my inspections on that basis. 1 am glad to see the exhibition of any practical work, and the more original it is, and the more varied, so much the better, as it is by this that I judge of the individuality and ability of the Scoutmaster. For big assemblages of Scouts we never use the old-fashioned military parade; but, if in the open, the circular rally, as described in the handbook; and if in a building or confined place, tho Scouts form spiral by following their leader till the Scouts are all circling round the inspecting officer, when the command ‘Halt, sit down’ is given and carried out in strict silence. I generally say a few words to the Scouts on conclusion of the review, and I like to collect the Scoutmasters afterwards, to be introduced to them and speak to them. “Forgive my going into these details, but as many Scout officers ask me these little points I have thought it may save you some trouble if I give the answers in anticipation of the questions.. I should bo grateful if . you

could kindly communicate them to your Commisioners and,Scoutmasters. "I have three gentlemen travelling with me as my assistants, Messrs. Noel Van Raalte, Insole and Wroughton. We are all looking forward very much to our visit to the New Zealand Scouts.?’ DOMINION RALLY. The following instructions are laid down by the Dominion Chief Scout for the performance of the Dominion rally: Haka—Leader: E rangatira ia. Scouts; Kei te rahi atu ia. I te Taniwha, I te Tnniwha, Hi, Hi, Ha. When the General reaches the point at which the official .Scout reception takes place, the command, “Staves down” will be given. A leader, or in the case of a battalion a sergeant-major, or Assistant Scoutmaster, will give the signal for the haka to commence by striking the palms of Lis hands on the front part of his thighs, at the same time stamping in unison, with his left foot. All follow his example, and as soon as he sees and hears that all have picked up the time, he calls out: “Eh . . . ranga-ic-rah . . . ee yah.” Then all join in with “Kai tay raaliee ah too . . . ee yah.” When they come to “ee tay Tan-ee fah” they raise their hands level with their shoulders, palms down, and swung them to the left and right alternately, keeping time to the words thus: “Ee-tay” (hands swing to the left front), Tan-ee-fah” (swing,to right front), “Eetay” (again to left) “Tan-ee-fnh” (again to right). “Hee” (again left), “Hee” (again right) “H-a-a-a 1! 1 (hands raised oyer head at full extent of arms, eyes directed towards officer, and tongues protruding towards the opposite side. The loft foot should keep time to all the movements during the haka. When it is finished the order, “Staves up” will be given, and Scouts will stand at the order.

Scouts are requested to learn this rally thoroughly. The pronunciation may be easily acquired.