SCOUTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21244, 14 January 1939, Page 11

SCOUTING

By

“Red Plume”

SCOUT LAW Scouts all the world over, have unwritten laws which bind them just as much as if they had been printed in black and white. They come to us from the old times. The Japanese have their Bushido, or laws of the old Samurai warriors, just as we have chivalry or rules of the knights of the Middle Ages. The Red Indians in America have their laws of honour; the Zulus, the natives of India, the European nations—all have their ancient codes. The following are the rules which apply to boy Scouts, and which you promise to obey when you are enrolled as a Scout, so it is as well that you should know all about them. The Scouts’ motto is BE PREPARED which means you are always on a state of readiness in mind and body to do your Duty. Be Prepared in mind by having disciplined yourself to be obedient to every ■ order, and also by having thought out beforehand any accident or situation that may occur, so that you know the right thing to do at the right moment, and are willing to do it. Be Prepared in body by making yourself strong and active and able to do the right thing at the right moment ann do it. Then there are the ten Laws, the Promise, the Salute and secret signs. Only when you understand these are you ready for the Investiture. NORTHDOWN TE RANGI AND ST. PETER'S ANNUAL CAMP The annual camp of the combined troops was held out at Raincliff during the holidays and was successful in every way. Eighteen Northdown Te Rang! Scoots and 10 St. Peters Scouts went into camp and for many of them it was an entirely new experience. On arrival at the camp site everyone set to with a will pitching the tents and it was not long before the camp was established and everyone settled down to the camp routine. The five patrols were each allotted to their own tent and soon surrounded their tents with many useful and novel camping gadgets.

The daily routine was kept to very well throughout the camp and it contained many varied and interesting activities. During the mornings Scouting tests and instruction were indulged in with a swimming parade befor dinner. After the hour’s rest after dinner another swim was enjoyed and then the rest of the afternoon was taken up with wide scouting games and general. In the evenings the Scouts took the opportunities of exploring the country surrounding the camp site and found much that was of interest particularly the many caves in the vicinity. Overnight Hike An overnight hike was held for the -atrol Leaders and seconds during the lamp to a place about seven miles distant from the camp. Seven members participated in the hike under the Scouter and it was a useful and enjoyable experience. All hike tents and cooking and camping gear wnich had to be carried in haversacks was cut down to a minimum. These are the same conditions as for the First Class journey only it must be done by two Scouts at a time. Campfires These camp fires were very successful features of the camp and were entered into with the proper Scout camp fire spirit. Many new songs were learnt and the old well tried ones were also sung. Many Scouts were initiated to the campfires in a rather humorous way, but will not be caught again. The bonfire on New Year’s Eve, after the campfire was concluded was lit shortly before midnight and the proceedings were kept very lively for a while with the fireworks brought to the camp by the Scouts. Visitors’ Day and Scouts Own Many visitors commenced to arrive early on the Sunday afternoon and the camp was soon much alive with welcome visitors and friends. During the afternoon, opportunity was taken to officially welcome the visitors, particularly the members of the Rotary Club who were present. Afterwards a short Scout’s Own was held Under the trees, the service which was simple but impressive was conducted by the Commissioner. Mr J. C. Bentley who took for his text “The Innkeeper from the Good Samaritan.” The visitors wandered around the camp during the afternoon expressing pleasure at the many gadgets set up and delighting many of the Scouts with the delectable things which they had brought for them. After eight days under canvas the camp concluded in a happy atmosphere of good fellowship and the memories of the happy events of this camp will remain for a long time with the Scouts who went to the first Scout camp held on the permanent camp site at Raincliff.

A Modest Request Uncle: Tommy, it’s your birthday i to-morrow. Would you like an electric , train, a steam lorry ,or a locomotive? Tommy No, thanks, Uncle, I should be quite satisfied with a motor-bike. Immediate Precaution When the crisis was at its worst the anager of a London works got his staff together and adressed them on the gravity of the situation both in a general sense and on its possible effect upon their own lives. At the end he said: “Now would anybody like to ask me a question?” After the usual short pause a small boy got up. “Yes, my boy,” said the manager, "do you want to ask me something?" “Yes, sir,” replied the lad. “Please, sir, could I have a rise?”

JUDGING DISTANCES During the summer months outdoor work will occupy the Patrols for the greater part of their programmes and the judging of distances and height can only be learnt by practice. For instance one method of Judging short distances is' as follows: At fifty yards, mouth and eyes of an approaching person can be clearly seen. At 100 yards, eyes appear as dots; 200 yards, buttons and details of uniform can still be seen; at 300 yards, face can be seen; at 400 yards, the movement of the legs can be seen; at 500 yards, the colour of the uniform can be seen. For distances over these, think out for yourself which point is halfway to your object. Estimate how far this may be from you, and then doubt it to obtain your distance. Or another way is to estimate the farthest distance that the object can be away, and then the very nearest it could be, and strike a mean between the two. Objects appear nearer than they really are. HEALTH The poor physical health of the nation was shown up in the rejection of a large percentage of men called up for service in the Great War. Yet the great proportion of these were “C 3 men only through preventable causes. They had never made themselves physically strong in games, etc., nor had they ever learnt that the human engine needs as much care and attention on the part of the user as does that of the locomotive. These are the things that we can teach our lads —and ought to, to enable them to do better for themselves, and to live in greater enjoyment of life. The great health is not a matter of luck, but of thing is for them to realise that their own responsibility for it. Our Dominion Chief, Mr Christie, is always stressing the fact that we must get the “out” in Scouting. ANNUAL CENSUS Although the slow decline in thi birth rate is such that the number o

boys of Scout and Cub age is a diminishing factor, the annual census reflects an increase in numbers. The grand total for the Dominion has increased by 1350. Hils is most encouraging. It is worthy of note that this advance has not been achieved in any one particular section of the movement, but indicates a steady growth in all sections. The number revealed by the census as at June 30, 1938, shows an increase of 49 Scouters, 73 Sea Scouts, 105 Rover Scouts, 514 Wolf Cubs and 608 Scouts. Of the 30 districts in the Dominion, 26 hate shown an increase in strength. It will be of considerable interest to members to learn that the growth which s taking place in this Dominion is in keeping with the general upward trend of world-wide Scouting. The world figures recently compiled reveal a membership of nearly 3,000,000 Boy Scouts in 49 countries. These statistics do not take into account members of the Old Boy Scout Associations. The Dominion census reveals a total of 11,378 Cubs, Scouts and Rovers. A grand total of 12,440 includes Scouters and Commissioners. BROADCASTS An innovation in Scouting has been introduced during the past year for the purpose of assisting the movement, more especially with the people in remote districts. We refer to broadcasting. During this period the Dominion Chief Commissioner has on two occasions broadcast talks, one of which was recorded and sent to all the National stations. There is now a regular broadcast to Lone Scouts fortnightly from 2YA, and there are also regular broadcasts from Auckland and Dunedin stations and from 2ZB, Wellington.