Scout News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 105, 6 May 1933, Page 14 (Supplement)

Scout News

Conducted weekly in tho interest of Scouting in til© district, and to acquaint the public with the work which Scouting embraces. AH contributions should be in the hands of “Lonu Wolf,” care 217 Avenue, at the latest Saturdar morning of each week. (By “Lone Wolf.”)

Anzac Day Parade. It was pelasing to see such a large parade for the Anzac Day service, csspecially- as the weather would have provided an excellent excuse for those who preferred a cosy chair beside a blazing tire. But there are few Scouts like that, eh? To have 75 per cent, on parade on a blustery day is something to be proud of. Marton Rovers.

Celebrating their first birthday, the Marton Rovers will hold a house-warm-ing in their new den on Wednesday next, Al ay 10, at 8 o’clock. At least ten Wanganui Rovers have signified their intention of attending the function. Five squires from Palmerston North district are at present going through at Marton and it is anticipated that they also will be in attendance on Wednesday night.

Mangaweka Service. “Lone Wolf” has received a report from Mangaweka detailing the activities of the Scouts and Guides there on Anzac Day. It is very pleasing to get such reports as these .as it affords supporters a chance to learn how troops and companies are getting on. At Alangaweka tho Scout troop and the Guide company left their meeting hall at 2.8 p.m. and marched to the Memorial Gates, where the chairman of the Town Board deposited a wreath. He was followed by the secretary of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, the representative of the Women’s Institute, the youngest and the oldest Guides, the youngest Scout and two schoolgirls. The Returned Soldiers, followed by tlie Guides and Scouts, marched to the hall where the colours were ha’ndcd over to the scoutmaster, the Guides receiving the Union Jack and the Scouts the New Zealand Ensign. The service at tho hall was presided over by Mr. A. Alilner, chairman of the Town Board, and tho benediction was pronounced by tho scoutmaster, Rev. E. W. Burgin, B.A. Home Studies. The papers for the \ arious Scout and Cub home studies for the Wood and Akela Badges are now in most of the candidates’ hands. In reply to a query “Lone Wolf” wishes to point out that it is extremely desirable that all who have applied for these papers complet the three studies. Even if there are questions you know nothing about, have never heard of, and probably hope you never will, don’t give in. In a case like this it is correct to state that you know nothing about it or have never encountered anything on the lines .stated, but in the event of doing so would 7 ? To all candidates, “Good hunting and best of luck.” “Effort not result counts.” Old Wolves Meet. Last week the Wanganui Cubmasters’ Association met for their monthly meeting quite a good crowd turning up at the Rover “Don.” J. Dowling of the Knox Pack took charge of the evening and after dividing those present into “sixes” carried the evening through as if it were a Cub parade. This (Scourer was one of the three local Scouters who were fortunate enough to attend the Akela Camp held in Wellington over Easter. Those present were very pleased to be able to welcome into their midst "two fellow Scouters from our district’s youngest group, Maxwell. Y.M.C.A. Concert.

A very enjoyable concert was given by the Y.M.C.A. Troop recently in aid of their tent fund. It is the intention of the group to stage a further concert at a later date. The thanks of tho Scourer and boys arc extended to Mr. and Airs. Grinstead for their hard work and patience in the training of tho boys. Items,wore: Opening chorus, pyramid display trio, Scouts Ginstead pyramid display trio, Scouts Grinstead pianoforte solos, Miss Jarvis; recitation, Aliss Al. Grinstead; playetto, “Sleeping Camp”; song. Second E. Grinstead; song, Scout Darby; recitation, Aliss R. Grinstead; canoe action song; Troop chorus; playetto, “Toymaker’s Drcam”; Cohen and Kelly on tho telephone; two songs by Mr. R. Wilson; playetto, song, Scouter A. H. Stoneman; song. Scout Grinstead; mouth organ solos by G. West and G. Foster, and a duet by Scouter Stoneman and P. L. Greagcr. Mr. Grinstead presided at the piano. Seatoun’s BirtHday.

The Seatoun Troop recently celebrated the seventh anniversary of its formation. Between 30 and 40 past and present members assembled, and also present were Sir Alfred and Miss Robin and the members of tho District Executive. During the evening Air. T. Rowell was presented with his Assisttant Scoutmaster’s warrant, and the Marley Cup was awarded to tho winning patrol by the donor. Supper was provided by the committee and specially arranged by Air. and Airs. W. O. Rowell. Tho proceedings were rounded off by tho presentation of a “talkie” cinema film. It was a very fine evening Tho. Seatoun Troop, like many another, has had a somewhat chequered career, and for a time was in danger of collapse. Its seventh birthday, however, finds it in perfect health, with every prospect, of a long and useful

One of tho problems considered by last, year’s conference, writes the Dominion Commissioner, was how to deal with Scouts who have passed through their Scout training and are too young to be assistant scoutmasters. One scoutmaster tells me that he has overcome tho difficulty by making them instructors. .Each is trained in sonic special branch of scouting, such as pioneering, signalling, or first-aid, and is then made instructor in this subject. This keeps them in touch with the troop, gives them a dignified position ,and something to work for, and relieves the scoutmaster of a good deal of tho drudgery of training. While they are wait ing for the age qualification of assistant scoutmasters, they can be fully occupied and of great assistance to the

troop. There is no reason why they should not be made rovers if they wish and specialise in advanced instruction; but hero again there is the difficulty of obtaining qualified rover Scout leaders, and we do not want to encourage rover crews without leaders. A Boy Scout Mayor. The scoutmaster of a local group of Boy Scouts, Councillor Roberts, has been elected Mayor of Ruthin. An Empire “Swap.” An offer to “swap” kangaroo skins iand boomerangs for Indian Candadian basket and bead work and carving has been made to the Canadian Boy Scouts by Scouts of Queensland.

Every Man a Boy Scout? “If every man were a Boy Scout there would be no need for international peace conferences,” said Mr. Justice J. B. M. Baxter, former Premier of New Brunswick, in a radio broadcast. He Forgot His Boots.

It was the troop’s annual entertainment and the scoutmaster was bearing up well under the strain until the principal item of the evening was due. In this tho boys were to appear as high way m< complete with riding boots. As the boys were being collected ready for their entry the principal highwayman went up to the scoutmaster and said, “Please, sir, I am very sorry, I have forgotten the boots.” This was the last straw! The boy stood up to his scoumaster’s tirade rather well, and when he had finished the boy said, “Please, sir, I remembered and went back for them!” Boy Scouts Help Work Drive.

Boy (Scouts are co-operating with Girl Guides and the Boys’ Brigade to assist Bournemouth’s £200,000 “work drive,”.which has as its object the creation of building work for the local unemployed. They will assist by delivering circulars to every household where there is a possibilty of work arising. Ip. Switzerland, But British.

Another British group of Boy Scouts abroad has just been registered, at Chilion College, Villeneuve, Switzerland. President Receives Scouts.

The President of the French Republic, Alonsicur Albert Lebrun, recently received a delegation from the Eclaireurs de France headed by their President, Alonsieur Georges Bertier, principal of the Ecolo des Rochees, Count Henri Marty, International Commissioner, Alonsieur Georges Gallienne, Vice-President, Alonsieur Andre Lefevre, National Commissioner, and Monsieur Octave Forsant, their General Secretary.

In the course of this interview Monsieur Lebrun accepted the position of Honorary President of the Committee of Patrons of the Association.

A Sheep Rescued. As a Boy Scout was on his way to school ho was informed that a lorrydriver had seen a sheep drowning in a pond. With one of his troop’s recruits and two smaller boys, he scaled a wall and rushed to the pond. Here ho saw the sheep ,almost submerged, and without even stopping to take oi? his boots, waded in and succeeded in freeing the animal’s legs, which were trapped in tho mud at the bottom of the pond. When further assistance arrived the sheep was rescued. A Silver Wolf Awarded.

Lord Baden-Powell, the Chief Scout has awarded the Order of the Silver Wolf, the highest award of tho Bov Scout movement, to Alonsieur Etienne Aan Hoof, the General Commissioner and Deputy Camp Chief of tho 8.-P. Belgian Scouts. Enthusiasm!

A training course for scoutmasters was recently held at Durban. It consisted. of five week-end camps. One participant motored 110 miles each way to attend each week-end, and an additional 60 miles each way tho following week-end to take part in a hike. His total was 1,220 miles over Natal roads during the wet season—times absent, nil; times late, nil. Special Test.

, Another story of a special test Scout’s achievement comes from the High Wood Hospital for children at Brentwood, Essex, where troop leader Walter Haynes, aged 16. has just become a King’s Scout.

With tho exception of the first class journey, he has passed all tho tests in the normal way. As a patient in hospital the journey wa s out of the question unless passed as a special test. Tho scoutmaster had always thought that the Pathfinder test was an impossible one for a Scout in hospital, but Haynes has proved this to the contrary. In completing his tests for the King’s Scout badge, Haynes has passed the following badges by ordinary tests within a year: —Reader, Ambulance Man, Missioner, Naturalist, Friend to Animals, Basket Worker, Poultry Farmer, Handyman. Cook, Carpenter. Fireman, Pathfinder, and Marksman. But the stigma of “badger” does not attach to Haynes for he devotes most of his time to helping ither Scouts in the hospital. History Will Pay Tribute.

Spe.’f;ing at the annual meeting of the Darlington and District Boy Scouts Association, when it was announced that membership had passed the thousand mark for tho first time since the movement started there, Sir Henry Havelock-Allen, the President, said that, the country to-day was not in the condition in which tye would like to see it, and although tho Scout movement was not tho only body exerting a steadying influence, yet it must be considered as a big factor. “There are very few movements,” he said, “which aro doing more good in steadying the country, in getting people to work together, in bringing people together in a manly sympathy a’ith each other, than this movement.