TO MAKE GOOD CITIZENS

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14722, 12 August 1921, Page 6

TO MAKE GOOD CITIZENS

OY SCOUT MOVEMENT, VISIT OF CHIEF COMMISSIONER. Hamilton was yesterday honoured by a visit from Captain 0. C. W. Cossgrove, Dominion Chief Commissioner. The visitor was tendered an official luncheon at Lowry's at mid-day. at which His Worship the Mayor (Mr .7. li. Fow) welcomed him on behalf of the citizens of Ihe borough. There was a big attendance of business men at the luncheon, including the member for the district, Mr .1. A. Young. After the luncheon Captain Cossgrove gave a brief address at the King's Theatre to a fair audience, on the objects and benefits of the Scout movement. Captain W. Bellamy, of Cambridge, presided. To Develop Good Citirenship. In outlining' the objeels the Chief Commissioner said it was to develop good citizenship among boys by forming their character, training them in habits of observation, obedience and self-reliance, inculcating loyalty and thoughtfulncss for others, teaching them services useful to the public and handicrafts useful to themselves, promoting their physical development and hygiene. The idea was to educate the boys by means of games—quite a different method to that adopted by the Education Department. There was one scoutmaster to every 24 boys, and the scoutmaster had a more difficult and oneroijw j.c.sition than the schoollead.--, dar the former's duly was to build up character. The Scout organisation was working for results that would not be immediately apparent, but would only be noticeable in later life—2s or 30 years hence. The movement was entirely voluntary, and in this fact lay one of its chief virtues. Scouting was a great game of bluff—to make the boys good citizens. The members were taught many useful things during their training such as tying knots, firstaid work, fatigue organisation, formation of bucket brigades in cases of fire, of rocket brigades in the event of distress, camp arrangements, temporary bridge building, life-saving, and many other useful functions that tended to make them good," upright and useful citizens. The speaker referred to a recent incident in Wellington, where a scout, after a great struggle in the sea, succeeded in saving the life of another boy, for which gallant act Lord Jellicoe had recommended him for the highest award in the giving of the Society—the Bronze Cross of the Boy Scouts of Britain. (Applause.) The speaker detailed some of the exceedingly useful work done by the Scouts during the great epidemic, and said that through their efforts many valuable lives were saved. In England great service was rendered during the war by the scouts, who relieved in many cases the coastguards, to enable them to fight overseas. Speaking of the effect of scou't discipline and the inculcation of scout ideals, ho said these were very evident in public places and in tram-cars and trains, where the scout could usually be picked out for his or her superior manners. The speaker went on to detail the establishment, and said the movement was undenominational, nonpolitical and non-military. The organisation had now been placed on a different fooling than in the past. Formerly the whole administration was centralised in Wellington, but now il had been decided to decentralise it and to place the administration in the hands of local citizens' committees, thus relieving the scoutmasters of the worries of finance and organisation. leaving to them the duties of training only. Opportunities in Hamilton. Mr H. Valcler thought the Scout movement could be made much more useful in Hamilton than il was at the present time and if the scoutmasters could devote their lime to training the boys, throwing the onus of the organisation and finance on a citizens' committee, it would be an excellent thing. The citizens could assist the' scoutmasters to a large degree to train the boys. Shortly after Mr Isitt's recent visit here, a meeting was held at which a fairly strong committee was formed, and it was decided that the best means of organisation was for each member of the committee lo be responsible for a particular department. The organisation had been divided up into tho'following departments: Finance, enrolment, camp, publicity, clothing, examiners, trophies, entertainments, sports, scoutmasters' instructions, and library. At the present lime there were only two scout units in Hamilton, which contained about 100 members. There was scope in a town of the size of Hamilton for at least live times as many. It was proposed to circularise those likely to lake an interest in the movement and to ask them lo become members of the Association and to give the organisation their active help. It was impossible, of course, to carry on without some finance, but this was not the only essential —they wanted active assistance. The stumbling block of the past had been centralisation, but now that Ihe scheme was to be decentralised and put under the control of local citizens' committees it should become a pronounced success. (Applause.) Replying lo a question by Mr T. Ladd, Captain Cossgrove . said every encouragement would be given to periodical camps. Too much outdoor work could not be given the boys, for the best training was that given in the open. The Inspection. In the afternoon Captain Cossgrove held an inspection of the Boy Scouts of the town on Seddon Park. The captain, who was accompanied by Captain Bellamy, District Chief Commissioner, was welcomed by the boys with a rousing haka, the scouts, led by Scoutmaster Truman, fairly letting themselves go in this manifestation of their goodwill and welcome. After being thus welcomed, Captain Cossgrove inspected the ranks, addressing a few pleasing remarks to each particular hoy. The colonel then addressed the Scout assemblage, telling Ihe boys that they were in one of the linesl games evr invenlcd. The Seoul, movement encircled the, entire globe, and Ihe badge of Ihe Seoul Brotherhood was recognised throughout Ihe world. When the present generation was dead and gone, continued Ihe colonel, it would be the duly of those now Scouts 1.0 govern llu- country. The State was strengthening Ihe boys' intellectual powers, and the Seoul movement was building up for those Inking part in it, strong, healthy bodies and sound, wellbalanced minds. The colonel impressed upon the boys the nobleness of doing "good turns" —not merely a general obligement, but the doing of tilings specially meritorious for the good of others. He urged the boys when they meet anyone wearing Ihe Scouts' badge l,i give him Ihe salute, and if he should slop 1.0 shake bands with lliehl to shake in Ihe orthodox Seoul manner, Willi Ihe left hand —the hand nearest the heart. After the address Captain Cossgrove. spoke a few confidential words of advice to the Scoutmasters, shaking hands wilh them all on departure. GIRLS' PEACE SCOUTS. LOCAL TROOP FORMED. In connection wilh trie inauguration of the Girls' Peace Seoul, movement in

Hamilton, Captain Cossgrove met the members of Hie local Girls' Peace Scout •nunril ni. St. Paul's Methodist Church in Wednesday afternoon. In addition to the members of council, there were present Mrs Blamires i president and local lOmmissioner). Mrs X. Carlcss (provincial seerelary), Scoutmistresses 'J'abb, Klmore and Soberer, Chief Scout Inspector Mr N. Carless, and the Provincial Commissioner of Boy Scouts, Captain Bellamy, of Cambridge. Captain Cossgrove gave a lucid description of the aims and objects or the movement, and answered many questions relative to the work. The age of girls admitted to the Scout movemenl is from 12 to 20 or over. ~ It was reported that 20 members and five seoulmistrcsses had been enrolled in St. Paul's troop, and arrangements had been made to conduct a course in first-aid under St. John Ambulance Association as soon as enrolment is sufficiently advanced. At the conclusion of (lie gathering a very' hearty vole of thanks was tendered to the Chief Peace Scout for his helpful address. The Hamilton troop is the only one between Auckland and Taupo.