Scout News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 280, 26 November 1932, Page 14 (Supplement)

Scout News

(By

“Lone Wolf-”)

DOMINION COUNCIL REPORTSMedal of Merit. .District Commissioner 11. Christie, was presented by His Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Blcdisloe, at the annual meeting of the Dominion Scouts’ Council, with the honorary medal of merit in recognition of his long and excellent services to the Scout movement. Our “chief” has been at the helm of Scouting in this district for close on eight years, and one and all will join in congratulating him on his award. “Chief” For N.Z. “It affords me sincere pleasure to be present to o: on this annual meeting of the Dominion Boy Scout Council, to congratulate those present on the gratifying progress within the coniines of New Zealand of this great world movement, to testify to its immeasurable power for good throughout the whole body politic, and to thank all those from the Chief Commissioner downwards who, as councillors, district commissioners, officers, examiners, instructors, or as members of local committees, have- during this past difficult year so unselfishly and patriotically directed, controlled, or inspired its multifarious activities,” said His Excellency the Governor-Gen-eral, Dominion. Chief Scout, when opening the annual meeting of the Dominion Boy Scout Council last week. That the Boy Scouts, like its twin sister, the Girl Guides, was a virile and progressive movement in the Dominion was illustrated by the numerical strength as the outcome of the census taken at September 30 last, said His Excellency. From that it appeared that there was now a total membership of 13,488 of all ranks and descriptions, showing a net .increase during the year of 588 —in spite of the prevailing poverty consequent upon current economic conditions—an increase which was spread fairly generally over the whole Dominion. It indicated not merely zealous activity among those publicspirited citizens who guided and controlled. the movement, but a growing consciousness that this great fellowship of boyhood was meeting a real natural need, and wa s worth some sacrifice on the part of parents and boys alike as a remunerative moral and spiritual investment. “It was this progressive conviction on my own part which induced me, amid a plethora oi other ties and commitments, to accede to the request of my much respected friend, Lord Baden-Powell, that 1 should become Dominion Chief Scout and thereby, even if I could devote but little time to participation in its activities, give the fullest possible measure of encouragement to the pursuit of its ideals, foremost among which must be placed the service of God and of fellow human beings and the formation of character as the basis of true citizenship. . “In the report I welcome, especially, the increase in the number of Sea Scouts, a desirable development in a

sea-girt country whose economic existence depends upon command of the seas and the uninterrupted interchange uf sea-borne merchandise, and also that of Rover Scouts whose influence and experience will add to the stability of the .Scout movement and whose self-deny-ing, philanthropic enterprise, especially in connection with the St. John Ambulance Association’s work, sets a fine example of useful public service to their vounger colleagues. Moreover, thoy will prove the means of a fuller development within the movement of useful

hobbies, so essential to the tight fimployment of leisure time, and the better equipment of those capable of giving instruction in them. Danger of Idleness. “The executive rightly expresses in its report grave concern about the baneful effects of the abnormal unemployment position upon th e older boys who, under ordinary conditions, would have been absorbed in industry. Socalled ‘enforced idleness’ is more calculated to undermine character and destroy self-respect than any other influence. I say ‘so-called’ because, although unemployment may be inevitable, idleness is not, at least to one who has had the training of a Scout. Desirable though it is from the standpoint of the, State and the parents that boys should have remunerative employment of a wholesome character, it is far juore important that a boy or adolescent should find some occupation for his hands and his mind than that he should be paid for it. Indeed, unless he does, there is a prospect of the State having utimately to suffer loss financially and ethically and a potentially useful citizen becoming a burden both to the community and to himself. And the more active-minded and capable the boy, the greater are his potentialities for demoralisation, unless scope can be found continuously for the salutary, or at least the innocuous, expenditure of his energies. The same individual is often potentially the greatest saint and the. greatest sinner, a man of eminence ami a debased criminal, acording to environment and opportunity. It is upon youthful environment and opportunity that the true patriot must ever keep a vigilant eye and employ a resourceful brain. “Being Put To the Test.” “The Boy Scout movement is being put by economic adversity to the supreme test of its efficacy as an outstanding factor in the advance of civilisation. It is my earnest hope and confident belief that it will issue from it with enhanced prestige and even wider acknowledgment of its national utility. “I am particularly pleased to note that happy relations are now established between Dominion headquarters and the district headquarters of the movement in New Zealand, and I sincerely hope that the process o-f decentralisation which has recently been effected and which permits of the more populous centres controlling their own activities, other than problems of general policy and finance, may be justified in its results, and that it may conduce to the increased stability and ordered progress of t he movement. I am also glad to notice the cordial co-operation of the Boy Scouts with other organisations which are seeking to promote the physical, mental, and spiritual welfare of the youth of the nation-” Living ou capital. When a suggestion was made at the annual meeting of the Dominion Council of the Roy Scouts’ Association last week that the annual income should be expended in training and other ways instead of being put to reserve, the idea found a good deal of opposition. Apart from the opening of the conference by his Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloc, the “financial debate” constituted the main business of the meeting. Mr. J. R. Kirk, M.B.K, of Gisborne, presided over a ful] attendance. Following the adoption of the annual report, Mr. J. S. Middleton moved the adoption of the balance-sheet, which he regretted was not as good as they would like to see it. The Government grant had been stopped and they were more or less living on capital. Expenditure had been reduced from £2OOO to a little over £IOOO, and it was fortunate that in the past something had been put by for a rainy day. Mr. H. Amos (Wellington) seconded, and congratulated th e council upon the careful way in which the income and expenditure accounts had been looked after. The organisation could not have been more economically controlled. At th e same time he did not think the policy of trying to build up reserves from income was the right one. A reserve ■fund, should not be built up out of income in such an organisation as the Boy Scouts. The money contributed by the public should be spent on the Scouts, and had that been done they

would have had a better organisation in Wellington to-day, although the position was very satisfactory, thanks to the excellent commissioners. Boys Should Help Themselves. The speaker then referred to the levy of Is per Scout imposed last year, from which it was expected £6OO would be raised. It had not been possible to raise the levy, as in Wellington alone it had taken them all their time to struggle through the year. He also mentioned the Hobby Exhibition at the Town Hall, but which was so poorly attended that they w'ould probably get “a tenner” out of it. “I am beginning to wonder if we cannot do too much for our future citizens,” said Mr. Amos, 4 4 and if the public and parents will not support the honorary work of our officers better in the future than i they have done in the past the best thing we can do will be to drop out of it.” He alluded to the splendid effort at Christchurch, where 500 boys were found jobs, and said as the jobs w r ere there it might have been better had the boys or parents gone out and found the job 8 f° r themselves. * ‘Perhaps we arc doing too much for the rising generation, instead of them doing something for themselves,” concluded Mr. Amos. Mr. H. Christie (Wanganui) said that if their cause was as good as they believed it to be they would have no difficulty in getting the citizens of the country to provide it with the necessary funds. He did not agree that they should get rid of the credit balance. The association had fallen on evil days but was able to keep going because of the balance in hand. “It is just as w'dl we had a reserve or our work would have gone back in this difficult year,” said Mr. A. J. McEldowney (Christchurch). Levy Abolished. On the motion of Colonel Fenwick it was decided to abolish the levy, and on the motion of Mr. W. E. S. Furby the price of badges is to be increased to the price charged in Australia. Mr. Middleton said the increase in the price of badges w r ould assure the council of an additional Income. A suggestion that a levy of 5s to 10s per troop should be made wai withdrawn. The chairman, who had previously announced his intention to move that headquarters be permitted to raise money from the public by such means as were possible, and that honorary members be admitted at a minimum subscription of ss, stated that he would drop the proposal. Figures. The membership shows an increase of 588 on the figures of last year. Details are given below of what appear to be the most interesting of the figures:— Totals for all ranks:—

SENTINEL SCOUTS. Many boys of 15 to 18 years who had dropped out of the Boy Scout movement in Otago have been formed into a group known as “sentinels,” thus keeping up the scouting spirit until they arrive at the ago when they can become Rovers (18 years) or scoutmasters. Colonel P. C. Fenwick said this at the annual meeting of the Dominion Scouts’ Council and suggested that the plan might be adopted elsewhere. He said some boys at 15 were too old for scouts and not old enough for Rovers or scoutmasters, and the scheme of “sentinels” would retain their interest in the scout movement.

“THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE”

“THE CHRONICLE’’ may be putchased daily from any of the undermentioned agents: — Wanganui— H. I. Jones aud Son, Booksellers, Victoria Avenue. J. E. Wilson and Co., Trinity Buildings, Victoria Avenue. C. W. Poynter, Bookseller, 49 Victoria Avenue. S. T. Pritchard, Bookseller, er. Avenue and Guyton Street. H. Rowell, Bookseller, 41 Victoria Avenue. C. Seddon, Bookseller, Rutland Buildings, Victoria Avenue. L. H. Claason, Victoria Avenue. R. Francis, Storekeeper, er. Wilson and Guyton Streets. R. Durie, Storekeeper, Ingestre St. Miss Greaves, Storekeeper, cr. Glasgow and Campbell Street*. W. J. Anderson, Storekeeper, er. Glasgow and Bell Streets. Mrs. Rogerson, Storekeeper, Glasgow Street. A. Lithgow, Storekeeper, cr. Glasgow and Pitt Streets. Mrs, Tinney, Tawa Street. Mrs. Carr, Bignell Street. Mrs. O’Hara, Storekeeper, er. Glasgow and Alexander Streets. C. W. Gaze, Storekeeper, cr. Glasgow and Gloucester Streets. A. F. Johnston, Storekeeper, cr. Ingestro and St. Hill Streets. Mrs. Watt, 76 Guyton Street. Mrs. Walton, Storekeeper, Somme Parade. H. H. Ward, 32 Somme Parade. Dickie Bros., Storekeepers, er. Liverpool and Pitt Streets. Mrs. Signal, Dublin Street. Mrs. Crumbly, The Loop, Dublin Street P. C. Hamilton, Grocer, cr. Bell and Dublin Streets. Mr Voyce, Liverpool Street. A. Shore, cr. Ingestre and Harrison Streets. Mansell, cr. Bell and Ingestre Streets. Miss D. Kendall, er. Plymouth and Harrison Streets. W. H. Braddock, Grocer, St. John’* Hill. Mrs. G. F. Bridges, Bookseller, Duncan Street. B. M. Limpus, Grocer, 23 Rangitikei Street. IL McGrouther, Bookseller, Moana St. Reid’s Cash Store, Grocer, cr. Rakeke and Poutini Street*. Mrs. Butcher, Fruiterer and Confectioner, Taylorville. Mrs. A. Neil, Newsagent, 64 Carlton Avenue. Maypole Stores, Grocers, cr. Head* Road and Carlton Avenue. Mr. Southcombc, Newsagent, The Junction, Gonville. B. Moore, Newsagent, Tawa Street. R. Sharpe, cr. Heads and Mosstown Road*. J. Olliver, Newsagent, Polson Street. Mrs. Bluett, Dairy, Rangiora Street Mr. Ayling, Storekeeper, Morgan St E. H. Pond, Storekeeper, Rangiora Street. J. E. Bridges, Bookseller, Aramoho. Mr. Harris, Newsagent, Aramoho, Miss A. Perkins, Storekeeper, Ara* moho Terminus. S. J. Verrail, Storekeeper, er. Somme Parade and Brunswick Road. Miss McDonald, Parsons Street. Springvale. Marton— M. T. Archibald, Tobacconist, Broadway. Miss Foote, Bookseller, Marton Junction. A. B. Innis, Bookseller, Broadway. Mogridge and Son, Stationers, Broadway. W. IL Snellgrove, Bookseller. Broadway. A. T. Gatrell, Broadway. Sutcliffe Bros., Broadway. Taihape— A. M. Barnard and Co., Booksellers, Hautapu Street. H. Dashwood, Stationer. W. 11. Farquhar, Railway Bookstall. E. M. Fors/th, Bookseller. Ohaknne— C. W. Rait, Stationer, The Junction. E. E. Purdon, Stationer, Clyde Street. W. F. Mahoney, Stationer and Jeweller. F. E. Gibbons, Newsagent and Stationer, Ohakune Junction. Hawera— F. J. Boase and Co., Booksellers, High Street. P. T. Donnelly and Co., Ltd., Book sellers, High Street. G. W. Clark, Railway Bookstall. Patea— H. E. Deane, Newsagent. J. Power, Bookseller and Stationer. P. E. Rossiter, Booksellers and Stationer. Raetihi— W. F. Mahony, Stationers and Jewellers. C. W. Rait, Stationer. Hunterville— Courier Sales and Service. H. Towers, Bookseller and Statiouef. Utiku— C. A. Arthur and Son, Storekeepers S. F. Reid, Storekeeper. Fordell— S. E. Lloyd, General Storekeeper. G. L. B. Whillai.B, Storekeeper. Turakina— S. Conder, Storekeeper. A. M. Sims, Storekeeper. Feilding— J. Aitken, Newsagent. Wm. Alpe, Stationer. Waitotara— A. H. Parkinson. Genera/ dtorokeepe* W. Simpson, General Storekeeper. Waverley— W. A. Dalrymple, Bookseller an J Stationer. Bro mi ley’s, Ltd. Maxwell— H. SidJall, Storekeeper. Bulls— C. H. Edwards, Bookseller and tioner. Sanson— Nicols Bros., Storekeeper*. Halcombe— Stitt and Monk, Storekeepers G. Nicol, Storekeepers. Mangaweka— L. A. Bailey, Bookseller. Rangitauar— W .F. Mohony, {storekeeper. Moawhango— J. Ford, Storekeeper. Ohing afti— Watson’s Ltd., General Storekeeper*. Mataxoa— Brooky Broe.. Newsagent. Iloropito— W. Petersen, Storekeeper Rata— Miss L. E. Rose, Storekeeper.

Area 1930 1931 1932 Wellington . .. 2431 2817 2024 Auckland .. .. 2273 2637 2857 Dunedin .. .. 980 1088 1215 Canterbury . .. Hawke’s Bay .. 914 1426 1472 024 505 540 Wanganui .. .. 471 511 718 Nelson . • .. 456 555 402 Dominion .. .. 13488 Rovers 1930 1931 1932 Wellington . .. 158 193 144 Auckland .. .. 107 58 58 Otago 18 12 28 Canterbury . .. Hawke’s Bay .. 15 30 59 15 .10 1 •* Wanganui .. .. 3 10 36 Nelson 5 7 10 Dominion .. .. 362 367 483 Scouts 1930 1931 1932 Wellington . .. 1235 1211 1111 Auckland .. .. 1389 1641 1641 Otago 477 489 569 Canterbury . .. 416 665 742 Hawke’s Bay . 378 343 351 Wanganui .. .. 210 323 372 Nelson 285 336 226 Dominion .. .. 5883 6790 0029

Cubs 1930 .1931 1932 Wellington . .. , 941 1108 1051 Auckland .. .. , 701 884 884 Otago . 388 476 475 Canterbury . ,, . 390 585 527 Hawke’s Bay .. . 184 101) .174 Wanganui .. . < , 203 121 241 Nelson , 92 127 103 Dominion .. .. , 3668 4425 4664