Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Thursday 1 September 1932, page 9


SCOUT AMALGAMATION.

SUPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT VALUABLE SOCIAL SERVICE.

The amalgamation of the Australian Im-perial Boy Souts' Association with the the Boy Scouts' Association of Australia was announced as a preliminary to the general business of the annual meeting of the Boy Souts' Association at the Town Hall last night. His Excellency the Lieutenant-Go-vernor (Sir William Irvine), who, by virtue of his office is the Chief Scout of Victoria, presided. The agreement between the two organisations was signed and sealed at the meeting. Negotiations have proceeded for many years for the amalgamation, as it was considered desirable that the existence of two organisations, only one of which, the Boy Scouts' Association ot Australia, was affiliated officially with the movement founded and led by the World Chief Scout (Lord Baden-Powell) was inimical to the best interests of scouting.

The announcement came as a surprise to all except those who had been intimately concerned in the negotiations. The chair-man of the State executive committee of the Boy Scouts Association, Mr. G. H.

Thomas expressed the satisfaction of all

present

The annual report showed that there had been 6,975 new registrations in the year ended June 30, compared with 6,221 for the previous year. The number of scoutmasters had increased from 1,038 to 1,458, although there was still need for more adult assist-ance. The number of cub packs had in-creased by 65, scout troops by 49, and rover crews by five.

Moving that the report and balance-sheet be received and adopted, Sir William Irvine said "I firmly believe that there is no movement in this community which has such a powerful effect in raising the stan-dard of character of our young men as the Boy Scout movement, and it is my desire, as it is the desire of every good citizen, that it may proceed with undiminished vigour and progress." (Hear, hear.)

The chief commissioner (Mr. C. A. Hoad-ley), who, with Mr. W. D. Kennedy, deputy camp chief, made a special journey from Gilwell Park for the occasion and returned immediately after the meeting to the Scout-ers training course camp which is now in progress, seconded the motion. He said :-- "We are carrying the gospel of scouting into homes for delinquent boys and or-phans; it has even taken root in such hos-pitals as the Austin Hospital for Chronic Diseases and the orthopaedic branch of the Children's Hospitnl at Frankston."

Mr. Angus S. Mitchell supported the mo-tion. By a rigid system of budgeting, he said, the balance of the ledger had been in credit to the extent ot £284. It the movement were to expand as it should in the next year, however, more money would he needed. One important activity was the boys' settlement at Port Melbourne, which was giving new hope to many poor

boys.

Sir William Irvine presented to Lone Rover A. R. Milne the certificate of merit for gallantry and to Scout Eric Sumner, of 1st Collingwood Troop, the gilt crosh of the movement for having saved the lives of fellow Scouts from drowning.

Officers were re-elected with the follow-ing additions:-Patrons, Sir Harold Luxton, M.L.A. and Mr. Menzies, M.L.A.; State council of control, Messrs. F. F. Allen and H. LeGrew, Scoutmasters J. Houston (Co-burg), C. Simpson (Camberwell), and W. Smith (Malvern).