INCREASE IN SCOUTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19959, 17 November 1934, Page 10

INCREASE IN SCOUTS

NEW TROOP FORMED Good news! A new troop of scouts has been formed. The troop, whose name is Saint Vincents, is meeting in St. Patrick’s Hall, Brown Street. The troop’s neckerchiefs will be green with a black cross on the point. An enthusiastic band of boys met for the preliminary meeting last week and the first fifteen to be chosen attended the Highfield Troop’s meeting on the following night. They are fortunate in that they have two Scouters already, and we are looking for some good work soon. The St. Vincent de Paul Society is sponsoring the Troop until such time as a committee can be formed from parents of the boys. It is fitting that some idea of the requirements and obligations of a member of the Boy Scouts’ Association should be brought before the notice of parents and others concerned. Firstly, to become a member of the Scouts, a boy must be between the ages of 11 and 18. On enrolment a Scout makes the following promise:— “On my honour I promise that I will do my best— To do my duty to God and the King, To help other people at all times, To obey the Scout Law.” Also he must know the Law which is:— 1. A Scout’s honour is to be trusted. 2. A Scout is loyal to the King, his country, his officers, his parents, his employers, and to those under him. 3. A. Scout’s duty is to be useful and to help others. 4. A Scout is a friend to all, and a brother to every other Scout, no matter to what social class the other belongs. 5. A Scout is courteous. 6. A Scout is a friend to animals. 7. A Scout obeys orders of his parents, patrol leader or Scoutmaster, without question. 8. A Scout smiles and whistles under all difficulties. 9. A Scout is thrifty. 10. A Scout is clean in thought, word and deed. Some of the reasons why boys should join the scout movement are:— Scouting fills a boy’s spare time with healthy occupations in healthy company. Scouting gives ft boy opportunities of service for God and his neighbour. This is the basis of religion. Scouting gives a boy a sense of honour and loyalty. Scouting teaches a boy self-reliance so that he can fend for himself and help other people. Scouting gives a boy happiness through cheery comradeship and the enjoyment of nature. Scouting widens a boy’s outlook since its branches in every civilised country are in mutual touch with one another. Scouting is not a military movement. We are out to make good individual citizens, not a crowd of imitation soldiers. Parents can help their by:— Taking an interest in their Scout work. Seeing that* they attend all parades and meetings. Visiting the Troop and getting to know the Scouters and Committee who are taking such an interest in the boys. They are your neighbours. Helping them prepare for tests and realising the fun for themselves. Seeing that they remember their Scout Promise and Law and try to put them into practice. Encouraging their boys, when old enough to go hiking and to go to camp. Remembering that the Boy Scout Movement has the interest of the boys at heart and is not conducted for personal gain. All Scoutmasters and Commissioners are unpaid workers. The Association is not subsidised by the Government, nor is it connected with or controlled by any Department of State. The various Groups are controlled by committees of their own, and the Groups of a District are controlled by District Committee, which in turn is answerable to Dominion Headquarters for the welfare of the district. The number of Troops or Groups in a district is not governed by the number of boys in that particular district, but by the number of men who are willing to take on the job of Scoutmaster and Cubmaster. These jobs are some of the most interesting hobbies that can be found and when gone into properly more than repay those taking it up by the splendid response that boys will give spontaneously to one who has their interests at heart. SURPRISE VISIT TO TIMARU Scouter F. W. Cutler and three scouts from the Bushside Scout Troop paid a surprise visit to Timaru during the week-end. They met a scouter and two scouts at work making Maori mats to take with them to the Melbourne Scout Jamboree. RESIGNATION OF SCOUTMASTER Scouts and scouters will hear with regret of the intending resignation of Scouter Cooke of the Northdown Te Rangi Troop. He has gone through the ranks qualifying from tender foot to scoutmaster. Scouter Cooke has put much time and labour mto ti. j work, and was recently presented w:ta the long service medal and has completed over eleven years’ service in th c movement. Scouter Cooke will be by no means loosing contact with the Movement, for, although he is by means of other work forced to resign he will still take an interest in scouts and help the Northdown Te Rangi Troop whenever he can.