BOY SCOUTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18382, 28 September 1929, Page 5

BOY SCOUTS.

SOUTH CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION. The following is the report of the South Canterbury Association which will be presented, at the annual meeting by the District Commissioner, Mr A. L. Gee:— During the year the various troops in Timaru have carried on their work with enthusiasm and a desine to improve the standard of scouting in this district. Regular monthly meetings of the Scouters’ Association have been held in the room, the use of which has been generously granted free for this purpose by the authorities of the Banks Street Methodist Church, and which was furnished and decorated by Mr W. G. Salmon. These Scouters’ Association meetings bring the officers of the various troops into close touch with one another and matters are discussed which are of benefit to all concerned, and greatly assist in the furtherance- of °-cout work throughout the district. They are presided over by the District Commissioner, assisted by the District Scoutmaster, and attended by all Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters. Cub-masters, and Assistant Cubmasters. Regular inspections of all the troops have been held during the year and the. work on each visit has shown a decided improvement. It is with resrret that T have to report that the South-Ehd Troop which was showing great promise has been comnelled to disband owing to the inabilitv of the Scoutmaster to attend naradeFi. and the committee not functioning. However, several members have Joined n+her troops and their services are not altogether lost.

There have been several changes in | the ranks of officers in the district, j Scoutmaster Rogers, a very efficient and valuable officer, has been compelled on account of ill health to- resign from | the Northdown—Te Rangi troop, and ( his place is being filled temporarily by Assistant Scoutmaster Percy Smith, who is carrying on the work in a very creditable manner with the help of his assistants. I hope that the Troo.p Committee will shortly see its way to recommend Assistant Scoutmaster Smith for promotion to the Scoutmastership. Scoutmaster Jaques of St Mary’s Troop has been transferred to Nelson, and on the recommendation of the Troop Committee Assistant Scoutmaster John Keen has been promoted to fill the vacaijcy. This young officer is full of energy- and shows great promise. The Highfield Troop has also been unfortunate in losing the services of Scoutmaster Beckett who has been compelled by circumstances to relinquish command of the troop and Cub-master R. Pawson has been promoted to Scoutmaster on the recommendation of the Troop Committee. Assistant Scoutmaster W. Winterbourn has been appointed Cub-master, with Scout W. Mayo as his assistant. At the- beginning of the year a new troop was formed in connection with Chalmers Presbyterian Church. Mr L. A. Waters was appointed Scoutmaster with Messrs Solomon. Milliken and Callender assistants. The troop shows promise of great things and has a very bright prospect before it. The work being done shows great improvement each month, and it will not be long before Chalmers will he able to uold its own with any troop in the district. The Troop Committee with the Rev. P. Gladstone Hughes as chairman, and Mr Kav as secretary, is do'tig good work in the interests/ of the bovs. There are four P«out troons in this district, vise. Northdown —To Rangi. St- Marv’s. Highfield and Chalmers, and two Cub pa-ks. viz. St. Mary’s and Highfield. Each troop has a committee which takes a great interest in the

work of the boys by visiting the I parades, personally supervising the work and encouraging tne Scouts and Cubs generally. The total of all ranks in the district, is 170. Combined field days have been held on several occasions during the ye ax at which outdoor Scout work has been done and examinations for badges held. The attendances at these field days have been very good and have resulted in a number of additional badges being gained. On August 3 a combined parade was held in honour of the 21st birthday of the Scout movement. The troops fell in at the Post Office and marched to Caroline Bay, where they were addressed by Mr W. Thomas, Rector of the Timaru Boys’ High School, also by the District Commissioner. There was a fair attendance, the prevalence of influenza being responsible for a number of absentees. Arrangements are now being made for troop camps and the boys are nil looking forward to having a jolly and useful time during the coming summer. At the request of the Caroline Bay Association, the Timaru Scouts have undertaken the work of permanently caring for and polishing about one hundred name plates placed on the new sea wall on the Bay to commemorate the various battles in which New Zealand Troops took part during the Great War. Also the sundial, on which are inscribed the names of all New Zealand V.C-’s. The work is taken over by each troop for one month in order of seniority. Good work was done by the Highfield Troop during the serious; illness of tho Troop Committee’s secretary, Mr Victoi j Panton. Each week Scouts visited Mr i Panton’s home and assisted MrsiPnnton by chopping wood, cutting the lawn, ! running errands and doing various odd ! jobs. Tliisi is the true Scout spirit and shows that the boys are in earnest in their endeavour to carry out their duties as Scouts. It. is hoped shortly to establish a Sen Scout Troon in Timaru with an exNava] Commander in charge. The conditions here are ideal for this purpose. and there is now every prospect of this matter being arranged, pro vided funds can bo obtained for the purchase of the necessary equipment. This is one way in which tho Rotary Club might see its way to rendet assistance to the Scouts. _ The thanks of the Association are due to the instructors, examiners, and all who during the past year have assisted the Scouts in their work. In conclusion, I would urge upon all troops in Timaru to do the : r utmost to push on the work by increasing their strength and making themselves as efficient as possible in view of the expected visit of the Chief Scout, Lord Badcn-Powell, to the Dominion next year.