The Boys Scouts

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144854, 4 December 1915, Page 4

The Boys Scouts

By Scouftnasfer

Commissioner for Taranaki Province. — Major F. AV. Sandford, V.D. New Plymouth District.—Commander, Mr.'Alex. Milne; secretary, Mr. H. Hadley. Stratford District.—Commander, Lieut. V. Crawshaw; secretary, Mr. A. D, Stanley. New Plymouth District Inspectors.— Messrs. M'Gnhov, M’Gregor, and Dearc. . St. Alary’s Troop.— scoutmaster, -Mr. C. List. Central Troop.—Chief Scoutmaster, Mr. j. - Arms; Assistant .Scoutmasters, Messrs. K. Milne and Allen. Omata Troop.—Scoutmaster 1-rost. Te Henui Troop.—Chief Scoutmaster, Rev. Air. Favell; Assistant Scoutmaster, AV. Howson. Bell Block Troop.—Scoutmaster, Air. Evison. A’ogcltown Troop.—Scoutmaster F. AA. Sandford. AA’aitara Troop.—Scoutmaster N. D. Day. Urenm Troop. Scoutmistrees, Miss Aillceu Taylor. There will lie a mooting of Scout officers in St. Alary’s Schuciiroom on Aionday, Gib insi./at 8 p.m. AH Scoutmasters are urgently requested to attend. Business important. It is regretted that the '.viuu-.ey Troop and Ssoiitmastei-’.s atldres.-, wl-i o omit tod in' last week’s notes. The Scouts of the Te Hrnni and St. Alary's troop, boih in appearance and in their conduct on pari.no on Sunday last, showed a marked iinprovomoni. AVe only hope that each parade prill prove that the hoys are better drilled ami disciplined by thur c.-tii ers. 'lhero is much space lor all-round improvement. CAAfP. Ono of the differences between a Territorial and a Seoul camp is mat invariably a Temlor.al hates tamp, w.mreas a .Seoul look.-; to;wa:d during too woolo year to the iv.-i-s or so tm.ie:’ canvas. The Scorn 011 i,..;,, committee has taken tins matter into cons;u-. ration, and belore ium issue we nope to be aide to say iloiinutiy both the time and the place of the ramp. Tho question ono asks is. why is camp sncli a necessary pun bi tile .Scout tra.ning? H a Territorial i.tfi.M- were aiv.gl inis, amongst many u.iior good reasons these would bo rani, : it is abso.ulely necessary to c-u.iect the M-at-uied units together for drill and, turtaef, that ilio various companies of cacn regiment should, at least once a year, meet together to tarry out divisional drill and mso that ilm officers in high places should have practice in handling largo bodies ol men. The S.-out oiScer’s reply goes nuu-li further than ibis. Not only is it in-ies.ary to collect the various troops together for battalion drill, not only do the Scout officers need training in the handling ol large numbers ol hoy.-, b.ji there are greater and more important laetors which ntak-i camp a note .- ;ty. In tamp the individual i>oy comet a.rct-tly undeithe eye of the Scoutmaster tor a deniiito period and tne Scoutma-icr is aok, to take an individual ml. rest in ms troop; tho bay, tty coming in contact with other hoys, under m.;j supervision, becomes Bociaoie alien in company ol other boys, ami any rough trains which the boy may have developed annotated by bis'parents and by such a ido and by such supervision will bo forced to act honourably a.ui "play the. gnnm.” There is also aumhor a.-peet by which we must view camp die. ia camp a ooy is taught to use Ins own individuality’. Sometimes ho is responsible lor Ins mates' meals; at olii.r times lor tho cleanliness of tho vamp, for the supply of wood and water, so a boy's individuality and character is strengthened by Having to command oiiier boys in their several duties and also those boys who are placed under the command of other boys are taught tho best and baldest 'discipline and seif control. Under the aide command ot District Commander Milne, assisted by his staff of officers, we feel sure that the camp will prove a most healihlnl holiday lor tho boys and also for those Scoutmasters fortnnato enough to be able to go under canvas with him. The parents need not worry about tho safety of thoir boys; there are none so keen ns the Scout musters that the camp should pass off without any hitch or without any sick reports. We have two great difficulties to meet, and they are those; —First, it is necessary for us to have an ample supply of canvas. At pi cte-nt we have nearly enough tents to ;r.-> umcdaio ;;ll troops, but we would b.k,- w lane w d ii us tents enough to aixe-mnodalo ibe boys without tear of ov.-rerowumg ami also to have a separate icr.t ana.--. Irom the living quarters . I or food. It any . people who are interested in the. Scout movement and have touts to spare

would they please inform either the District Commander or Mr. C. List, Sarnia House. Remember that tents which will not stand a fairly strong wind are practically useless. The Scout organisation will hold themselves responsible for the safe return of any tents loaned.

Secondly, there is the vexed question of finance. This is the most serious problem of all, and especially at this time when the calls on one’s purse are so numerous. Tho Scout organisation asks os ' each boy. This small sum covers all expenses. Surely when the Scout organisation offers such a hea.raful holiday, parents and guardians will not stop their boys from going into camp because of the expense. The boy cannot possibly get a less expensive holiday anywhere; old clothes and boots are finished off which otherwise would be burned; whereas it he went for a holiday to a friend there would be the expense of travelling and of fitting tho boy out in presentable clothes, which we' can safely say would moan much more than ss. Aiso, when the' Scout organisation levies such a small fee they are thinking of those boys who are uot fortunate enough to have wealthy parents, and who would otherwise never bo able to get a Christmas holiday. \Vo would also ask parents to remember that tiie more Scouts in camp the merrier. AVo look forward to a happy camp and it lies to a very great extent in the parents' bands to give us the opportunity’ of realising our ideal.