Scouting

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21575, 10 February 1940, Page 5

Scouting

By

“D.C”

DOMINION COMMISSIONER FOR TRAINING Word has been received that Mr J. R. Cooksey, the Dominion Commissioner for Training for the Dominion will arrive in our district on February 12 and a full programme has been arranged during his stay of a week with us. The opportunity will be taken of visiting the groups in the outer areas. A district training camp for all Scouters and Cubmasters will be held at the Pioneer Camp. Raincliff, from the evening of the 16th. All Scouts and Cubs will be able to meet "Little John" during his visit. A NEW GROUP As a result of a visit to Pleasant Point, it is hoped to commence a troop of Scouts in this district. As a Sccuter, Rev. Schurr, has had plenty of experience and a troop should be of benefit to the boys of Pleasant Point; with the wide scope that Scouting offers, its healthy occupations. and its opportunities for service. the committee with their leaders, will be able to give every encouragement to those boys taking up the game of Scouting in this new area. | THE AMBULANCE BADGE At a recent meeting of the Scouters Association it was decided on the advice of the Ambulance Examiner to re-examine all holders of the Badge • within the next three months. It is a I condition that those Scouts who fail i to repass annually must take the badge from their uniform. HIGH TRIBUTE TO SCOUT TRAINING The Lieutenant-Governor of Prince Edward Island. Mr George D. De Blois, has just -paid this tribute to Scouting in his jar ewell message at the conclusion of his period of office:— “The Boy Scouts have enlisted my interest because I am convinced that the outdoor life and training, with the lessons in discipline, service, courtesy and little acts of human kindness which these young minds receive, cannot fail to produce the highest type of manhood. I like the Scout promise. There is something about it that inspires one with confidence and courage every time you hear it repeated. . . . I for one believe that these boys will develop into men who will carry our civilisation to the highest point it has ever reached.” THE SCOUT PROMISE “On my honour I promise to do my best To do my duty to God and the King, ' To help other people at all times, To obey the Scout Law.” Now that we have commenced another Scouting year we should ask ourselves several questions. Do we realise the duty that rests upon us as Scouts of a great brotherhood and of our Promise. If you ask yourself this question you will no doubt find that the answer is that you realise the duty seems too great for you. It seems so to me. However, we cannot leave it at that. To the extent of our ability we must work for this great objective. As Scouters we must push on together and see what we can make of the job. A lot will be expected of us and in 1940 we must do the finest job of work to which we can possibly devote ourselves at this time. NORFOLK SEA SCOUTS’ GOOD WORK News of the good work of Norfolk Sea Scouts comes from Trimingham where the local Sea Scouts have done most useful service at Cromer Coastguard Station. They have signalled messages to the police about washedup mines, and transmitted messages to the lifeboat by radio and lamp when the Greek steamer "Mount Ida” was recently wrecked on their part of the coast. CARRY ON! Doing one's duty is not as a rule spectacular. The chap who quietly carries on doing his daily tasks and is ready to do any other little job which he is asked to do cheerfully, is rendering service. It will not be the lot of a great many Scouts to be engaged in official jobs, but nevertheless others can do service by keeping their eyes open for "good turns.” Do not neglect your Scout training. Organised troop camps may be difficult to arrange on account of your Scouter being away. But what about the P.L’s? Now is your chance to prove your worth. Keep yourself and your chaps fit. This will save your parents much worry and is serving your country. We do not want to hear of troops “falling through” because Scouter is away, in fact we expect more chaps to join us. The more you chaps can do for yourselves at such a time the better service you are doing. Appeals for money for patriotic purpose will probably be made, and Scouts should refrain as much as possible from asking for money for their use. This means that you must make do with what you have got and so practise our law of thrift. Find out the homes where difficulties are being faced and do your best to help without fuss. Make as much of your own equipment as you can. Make billies from clean tins, patch up old tents, look after your ropes, axes and uniforms. A Scout is always a handy man and resourceful. Those of you who wear Public Service badges, see that you are efficient in them and do not be content with just qualifying for them, but increase your knowledge. Pathfinders and cyclists, for instance, should widen their knowledge of the surrounding country, overhaul their cycles and see that they are in good serviceable condition. Practise memorising verbal messages with your patrols. Also learn to write out short accurate reports. These should be short and clear without leaving out important points nor adding a lot of unnecessary stuff. Be smart in all your duties and pay correct respect to all employing you. Often you may have to wait with nothing to do. This is perhaps the hardest job, and there is a temptation to wander off, so that if your are suddenly wanted you cannot be found. There are many people in this country who still look upon Scouts as sort of “joy campers.” Here is our opportunity of showing them that we can do a job of service for our country and do it well. Go to it!

—Littlejohn” in “Scouting in New Zealand,”