SCOUT NEWS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 59, 11 March 1937, Page 9

SCOUT NEWS

Thought for the week:—‘Give honour to whom honour is due.” The Boy Scout annual swimming competitions will be held on Saturday, March 13, at 1.30 p.m. in the Gonville Baths. The Commissioners advise that the annual meeting of the District executive will be held in the Y.M.C.A. on Tuesday, March 16, at 7.30 p.m. Members are please asked to accept this intimation. The Marton Group invites all groups to participate in the annual competitions for the Marton and Gregory Cups at Marton on the 20th. instant at 3 p.m. The District Scoutmaster advises that, the annual swimming competitions will be held in the Gonville Baths on Saturday, the 13th. instant, at 1.30 p.m. A large number of entries are expected. Plans for the Dominion Rover moot which is to be held at Masterton over Easter are progressing apace. The Dominion Headquarters Commissioner for Rovers will be present. The camp site is being prepared by the Masterton Rovers. The fee is not expected to exceed 10s per man. Important matters are to- be discussed, and it is advisable for all Rovers to attend.

The Dominion Headquarters Commissioner for Rover Scouts is Air Marshall Sir Robert Clark-Hall K.8.E., C.M.G., D. 5.0., and the following is a letter written by him. “Dear Rover Crew Leaders,

This letter is to introduce myself to those of you I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, and to ask for your advice and help. Some months ago our Chief, Colonel Fenwick, asked me if I would take over the job of Headquarters’ Commissioner for Rovers. I pointed out to him that I was a newcomer to New Zealand and knew nothing of the country, and also had no previous knowledge of Scouting, but in spite of this he asked me to take it on, so I did. Well, the distances in this country are great and travelling is expensive, so I wrote to all the Commissioners and got their permision to correspond with crews direct in order to try and get in touch, learn what was going on, and collect ideas. I undertook not to ‘short circuit’ commissioners in any way and you will quite understand that all 'official matters’ can only be conducted as usual through your own District Commissioner. We are holding a Rover Moot at Masterton during the Easter week-end, and I hope to meet a good many of you there. I should welcome any suggestions for the programme of this moot, such as subjects for discussion, lectures, etc. I should like to circulate information as to what points are to be discussed to give people time to think the matters over so there is not much time left. It has been suggested’ that crews who live close enough to be able to attend a Masterton in any numbers should each give a demonstration of some subject in which they have specialised or take a particular interest. For instance, rope-making, basket-work, or surveying. What do you think of this, and what would your crew be able to put on of that sort? One subject I propose to raise at the moot is the possibility of starting a Rover magazine in the Dominion, so bring or send your ideas along. Several crews already manage to run their own very good magazines, and most of them seem to have access to a typewriter and hektograph machine, so surely something should be possible even if we cannot run to print. Yours ever, “Wings.” “’Wings” | is the Scout name that was suggested for me by the Rovers at the Wirihana moot and which I adopted as I thought it appropriate as I was in the Air Force for 16 years (after a previous 21 years in the Navy). I hope you wifi never call me by any other name; but you will have to address your envelopes differently (if any of you reply as I hope some of you will). My full name and address is, Air Marshall Sir Robert Clark-Hall, K.8.E., C.M.G., D.S.O. (That sounds pretty grim, but don’t let it prejudice you too much against me till we have met). 128 Ham Road, Christchurch, N.W.3.’ ”