SCOUT NEWS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 66, 20 March 1935, Page 10

SCOUT NEWS

Conducted weekly ?u the interest of Scouting in the district, and to acquaint the public with the work which Scouting embraces. All contributions should be in the hands of “Lono Wolf,” care 217 Avenue, at the latest Saturday morn-

ing of each week.

(By “

Lone Wolf.”)

Parewanui Troop. Tuesday of last week will go down as one of the real ‘‘red letter days” in the history of the Parewanui Scout Troop. It w r as the occasion of the investiture of Scouts N. Montgomery, W. Warbrick, L. Bracken, H. Marumaru and D. Yung who have the honour of being the first invested Scouts of this new troop. The Scouts were put through their tests prior to the investiture by IDistrict Conimissioner A. F. A. Woollams, District Scoutmaster W. Minnell and a Rover of the First Wanganui City Rover Group. The high standard of knowledge already attained, and the no uncertain manner in which each boy repeated his law and promise was the subject of much favourable comment by the examining Scouters. Mr. B. Marumaru, the acting Scoutmaster, has been doing good work and the result will no doubt be very pleasing to all concerned. The old cheese factory building has been made available for the troop and is really quite a suitable hall in which to conduct activities. That the movement in Parewanui has the support of the public was demonstrated by the large audience present at the investiture and concert. An excellent programme was given by the Scouts and the local Maori party. Air. Ormond Wilson, Commissioner Woollams and Colonel Powles, Principal of Flock House, were the speakers each being listened to most attentively. The concert programme included: Chorus, ‘‘Pack Up Your Troubles,” by the Scouts; song, “Hold Hoki,” Scout 11. Marumaru; Highland dances, Miss D. Sutherland; recitation, “Dan Megrew,” Mr. Peacock; chorus, “Toku Wairua.” Scouts and Maori party; a sketch by Mr. Peacock and the Scouts. A duet, “Hine,” Misses Marumaru and Hunia; Maori stick game. “Tititoreato”; duet, “ Home Little Maori,” Miss Hunia and Mr. Apirana: a solo by Mrs. Peacock; vocal and instrumental duet, by Messrs. Apirana and Te Tua; and choruses “Poatarau.” and “Pokarekarcana, ” the song poi, “Haere Mai,” and the action song, ‘E pari ra,” all by the Maori party. Miss Nancy Wilson, the Dominion Akela Leader was also present and dei lighted all with her talk about the recent Australian Jamboree. A collective in aid of the troop funds resulted in almost £2 being given to help the boys along. Colonel Poweles made a contribution of 10s, donations being also received from Mrs. Montgomerie and Mrs. T. Lewis. Mr. Bob Young presented two ducks which were sold for 4s 6d and 3s (id. The undoubted success of the. evening was due to the tine team spirit of the residents and to the very helpful cooperation of the Maoris and Pakehas. Parewanui has good reason to be proud of the troop now in its midst. Their Blood fo T the Chief. The publication of the Red Cross Society’s Blood Transfusion Service Quarterly Circular has brought to light the news, hitherto unknown even in the highest Scouting circles, that during Lord Baden-Powell’s serious illness last year a Ranger and a Rover Scout helped to save their chief’s life by giving blood transfusions. Continued Vitality of Scouting. In the absence oversea of the Chief Scout. Lord Baden-Powell, Lord Hampton, Chief Commissioner of the Boy Scouts’ Association, presided over the annual general meeting of the Council of the Boy Scouts Association held at the Imperial headquarters in Buckingham Palace Road. London. Lord Baden-Powell, the Chief Scout, sent the following cable from Australia:— “Splendid Jamboree rejuvenated Australian movement and myself. Wish every success 1935. (Signed) BADEN-POWELL. ’ ’ When he proposed the toast of the Scout Movement and the Chief Scout at the annual Commissioners’ dinner at the Hotel Russell, Lord Hampton said:—• “The health of the Scout Movement has been in the thoughts of a great many of us since the appearance of the figures of the census. We started our conference with r note of pessimism, but we finished with a decided feeling of optimism. “Figures are all right for them as likes ’em! There are some of us who think that the health of the Scout Movement has never been better than it is to-day. . . Getting Scouting across to the boys is not as easy as it was, but it is getting more and more interesting. Scouting can still give the boys something which no other movement can provide in quite the same way. “For everything, we 'have to thank the Chief Scout, for w'hom we had anxious thoughts last year. Now we know that he is the same old Chief—he’s out fishing somewhere at the moment —and his inspiration is as fresh as ever it was. “When he comes back we want to show him he can’t put anything over on us. He has found healthy Scouting in Australia and everywhere else he has visted —we have got to show him healthy Scouting here!” H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught’s Message. H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught, Predent of the association, sent the following message: — “As usual, I send my warmest greetings to the annual meeting of the council of the Boy Scouts Association—May 1935 follow in the steps of past years. I rejoice that there has been a net increase throughout the Empire of 34,000 Scouts, which proves the continued vitality of our great movement. “The early part of 1934 was greatly over-shadowed by our anxiety over the serious illness of our Chief Scout, but thank God he made a wondeful recovery, and is, I am pleased to hear, in the latest news from Australia, in splendid health and spirits. “It is most gratifying to hear of the continued success of the Chief Scout’s world tour, of which most interesting reports continue to be received, and give an idea of the great interest taken in the movement wherever he has called. The great Jamboree in Australia, in which many nations have taken part, is the culinjnn.»in<r point in the success of our

great movement, and it is interesting to note is the first World Tamboree tobe held outside Europe. A contingent of Scouts and Rovers were sent from this country and I hear that they have maintained the reputation of the United Kingdom in Scouting. “I am glad that we have decided to increase our activities in improving the physical health of our Scouts and I hope that Dr. Walker, the newly-ap-pointed Adviser on Physical Training, will be able to report a great improvement on its success, which will add a further, contribution to the value of Scouting. (Signed) ARTHUR. A Royal Year. Proposing the adoption of the annual report, Lord Hampton, the Chief Commissioner, said that the year had been remarkable in that there had been no less than three occasions on which the Royal Family had assisted at Scour events—first, the Prince of Wales had made a special trip to the Glasgow Scouts’ show, then the King and Queen and inspected the Scouts at Windsor Castle before the St. George’s Day Service and had later taken the place of the Duke and Duchess of York at the Edinburgh Scoutin’ Schaw. • » • • Elections to the Council. Lord Eustace Percy, the Bishop of Kensington, the Bishop of Jarrow, the Rev. S. W. Hughes and Dr. Percival Sharp were elected to fill the vacancies. Gift for Roland House. Sir James Leigh-Wood, treasurer of the Association, seconded the adoption of the report, which was carried unanimously. Sir James announced that Sir Jeremiah Colman, a member of the Council, was going to give £1,250 to Roland House, the Scout Settlement and Hostel in the East End of London. when he and Lady Colman celebrate their Golden Wedding on February 25. (A golden wedding is an occasion when one hears a good deal about presents: Sir Jeremiah and Lady Colman will be happier making presents than receiving them. Sir Jeremiah has been associated with the Boy Scouts for a very long time, having been founder and president of the Reigate Boy Scouts Association, and Lady Colman has been President of the local Girl Guides Association since its foundation—so naturally the Scouts and Guides were much in their thoughts. After conferring with Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, they decided that one of the gifts should be that now announced. The gift will be devoted to the renovation and reconditioning of No. 31, Stepney Green, the house next door to Roland House which has just been acquired.) The Chief Scout was very keen on expanding physical training among Scouts. The question had been brought home to them by the very serious figures on physical fitness. There were many countries which were going ahead with graded programmes, building up the health of the nations. The Chief felt that they ought to go as far as they could in this country. The coming year would be an important one for Scouting. The first great occasion would b 6 the anniversary of the King's accession, in the celebration of which they hoped to take an active and happy part with the chain of beacons. Some countries also were going to have special camps. Then later on would come the World Rover Moot coupled with the International Conference at Stockholm. They hoped to send a full contingent of 2,200 to the moot from this country. Later on still would be the Open Conference at Manchester. In the session which followed a number of suggestions for counte-racting the decline were put forward and it was announced that the Committee of the Council was going very fully into the question.