BOY SCOUTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2578, 5 February 1910, Page 4 (Supplement)

BOY SCOUTS.

RECOGNITION BY GOVERNMENT A BRANCH OF CADETS.

WITH PARTIAL EXEMPTION FROM MILTILARY TRAINING.

Under the Defence Act of 1909, provision is made for the Minister, at the instance of the local authorities controlling the Boy Scouts movement, to officially recognise the scouts. Since the passing of the new Defence Act, scoutmasters and others who take an interest in the work of the Boy Scouts have been giving serious consideration to their future relationship to the Junior Cadets. The attached suggestions for a basis of agreement were submitted to, and approved by, a committee convened, for the purpose by Dr It. H. Makgill, Commissioner of Boy Scouts, North Island, and were subsequently forwarded to the various district commanders for consideration and report. A. copy has also been submitted to the Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister in Charge of the Junior Cadets. Regulations with reference thereto are at present engaging the attention of the Cadet Branch of the Education Department, and in all probability will be gazetted at no distant date. It was agreed by the committee, and expressed as articles of policy, that: “The object- of the Boy Scout organisation is to train boys in the direction of making them good scouts and useful citizens, but we must not overlook the value of military training such as they will receive as junior cadets under the Defence Act. We must endeavor to secure for our hoys a sound training from botli directions, and thus turn out the most highly-trained type for our future citizens. To secure this, we propose to leave the military side of the training, other than scouting, to the cadet officers, and devote ourselves to the subjects detailed in military ‘Scouting for Boys,’ since the latter type of teaching is difficult to combine with strict military discipline and ideas. CONCESSIONS ASKED FOR. “Wo desire that our training of the boys as scouts shall be recognised by the Education Department, as forming a specialised branch of the cadets, to be known as ‘Boy Scouts,’ appearing as such on official parades and field days in their.distinctive uniform. We hope, further, to secure for our boys the following concessions:

(a) Partial exemption from the full course of militar3’ training; (b) Railway and other concessions similar to cadets; (c) Assistance in the matter of uniform to a like degree as received b\' cadets; (d) Recognition of the examinations passed as laid down in ‘Scouting for Boys.’ “To secure such recognition and concessions, it is obvious that we must submit to a certain degree of official supervision and control; but while granting this, it is, in our opinion, essential that the present spontaneity on the part of both instructor and boy should be preserved, and that while the standard of excellence may well be fixed by the Education Department, the relationship between instructor and pupil should he free from official control. CIVILIAN CONTROL.

“With this in view, we propose that the existing Boy Scout organisation should remain as at present—a purel\’ voluntary body under civilian control—but that in the following matters the boys should be placed under the supervision of the Department:— (a) When the scouts are required to take part in parades, camps, and field work prescribed for the cadets by the Department, the control of the scouts on these occasions must he in the hands of the Departmental officers; (b) Tho examination of scouts for classification, badges, and honors, should be conducted b3* officers approved by the Department; (c) To secure exemption from a -portion of the routine military training, the scouting work which it is proposed should be offered in lieu thereof should he subject to inspection at the hands of officers ap]>ointed by the department. SUPPLY OF OFFICERS.

"It is desirable that, so far as possible, the above officers should be supplied from the staff of the Boy Scout organisation. Therefore it is suggested that inspectors scoutmasters, and other officers should volunteer to assist the Department in carrying out the official s hare of the work, it being clearly understood that the acceptance of their services must depend on- their being approved by the Commandant of the junior cadets, and that when accepted they are on all official occasions attached to the cadet forces, and therefore must obey the orders of the officer in command of the cadets. Attendance ou such official occasions will be voluntary on the part of the scoutmasters. The following facts should bo remembered in considering Hie above proposals :

(a) All boys above eleven years of age are now compelled to serve as cadets under the Defence Act, 1909, but that such service may in part take the form of scout work is conceded by the Act; (b) The junior cadets are controlled by the Minister for Education, whose Chief of Staff is the Commandant of Cadets; (c) The official recognition of scouts depends on mutual agreement between the Minister and the civil organisation; therefore, proposals from our organisation must be submitted to the Minister. SCOUT-CADETS.

"By tho above suggestions a boy scout remains on ordinary occasions exactly in his present position, but on the days prescribed by the Department he appears in his official capacity as a member of the Boy Scout Branch of Cadets. Scoutmasters will conduct their work as freely as at present on ordinary occasioas; but, if ho voluntarily offers Jiis services, a scoutmaster may be attached to the S’cout Branch of the Cadets, and can then appear on official occasions in immediate command of his troop, but subject to orders from the officer in general command of the cadets or any special officer appointed by the commandant of cadets to take control of the Boy Scout Division. Thus, on an official parade, tho cadets will bo divided into cadets pure and simple, and cadets who are boy scouts. All will come under the command of the general officer commanding, but the two divisions will each have its special staff of officers. "It is hoped that scoutmasters may come forward, and, as fa.r as possible, supply the staff of the Boy Scout Division". In this way the training of the scouts will not suffer from want of continuity. Scoutmasters who do not iyish to take this voluntary official service must stand .aside on these days on which official work is being carried out.