ROTARY CLUB

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18502, 25 February 1930, Page 10

ROTARY CLUB

ADDRESS BY MAJOR SANDFORD. At their weekly luncheon yesterday, members of the Timaru Rotary Club were addressed by Major F. W. Sandford (Commissioner for Scout training for the Dominion). Major Sandford, who was introduced by the president (Mr P. B. Foote), expressed appreciation of the opportunity of speaking to rotarians on what might be termed his pet subject. He said that his work among the boys dated back to 1887. in which year he was requested by Christ’s College authorities to take charge of a technical school they were establishing. Continuing, he said that everyone knew the boy—he was a nuisance to everyone, excepting those to whom he belonged. And yet he was wonderful, and they had to thank science, plus experience, for telling them something about him. The boy generally lived in a world by him- | self, and did not know grown-ups. who | imposed many restrictions on him. All could recall' their school days, and could recall the pleasure they had experienced in pushing out of the school doors into the open. Outside everyone knew and understood each other, and spoke to each other in boy language. When they grew to manhood, things were different. Pie had heard business men say that they did not want boys, because the girls nowadays were knocking spots off them. The educational system had changed very rapidly in the last five years, however, and today the schools were beginning to talk about the character of the boy. At the stage the speaker referred to the commencement of the Boy Scout movement, pointing out that it was a military man who was responsible for its foundation. While in service in India, he came to realise that something more than the ordinary training of a soldier was necessary. That something was scouting. and so he was appointed to train boys. Thus commenced the movement which had spread throughout the world. Major Sandford stated that there had been much opposition to the movement, and even during the great jamboree at Arrowe Park, the Labour Government in England had shown opposition. Representatives of the Party saw the great march past and the work being done, however, and from then on all opposition was withdrawn. Continu--1 ing, Major Sandford said that the . movement was now established in • forty-three different countries. Italy had previously been prominent, but Signor Mussolini had seen fit to take the boys and form them into a society in accordance with his own views. The mystery of the thing was that so few churches and so few teachers realised the value of the work. They did not interfere with the work of the schools, but endeavoured to supplement it. Their idea was to teach the boy selfcontrol, and to know right from wrong. The whole movement was based on religion. Major Sandford went on to refer in detail to the courses of training, and what scoutmasters had to go through to fit themselves for the training of the boys. He said that there was splendid material available in Timaru, both in men and boys, but an area of land adjacent to the town was needed as a camping ground, and he appealed to members to assist, if it was in their power to do so. On the motion of Mr M. Taylor, Major Sandford was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.