BOY SCOUTS

The Boy Scouts Association of New Zealand

The Boy Scout movement in New Zealand began in 1908, the same year in which General (later, Lord) Baden-Powell launched the movement in the United Kingdom. The first Dominion Chief Scout was Lt.-Col. D. Cossgrove, who was responsible for the early organisation of Scouting and placing it on a firm footing in this country. Colonel Cossgrove was an acquaintance of Lord Baden-Powell, and it was through personal correspondence and the adoption of Baden-Powell's ideas that the foundation of the organisation in New Zealand was based.

The principles and practice of the association are founded on the basis of the Scout Promise and the Scout Law. Prior to July 1953 the New Zealand organisation was a branch of the Boy Scouts Association of the United Kingdom. Since that date it has been an independent association, although it follows closely the pattern of Scouting in the United Kingdom.

The aim of the association is to develop good citizenship among boys by forming their character; by training them in habits of observation, obedience, and self-reliance; by inculcating loyalty and thoughtfulness for others; by teaching them services useful to the public, and handicrafts useful to themselves; and by promoting their physical, mental, and spiritual development.

The organisation in New Zealand is based on 12 Scout areas into which the country is divided. Each area is represented on the Dominion Council and the Dominion Executive Committee, which are the bodies responsible for the policy and welfare of the movement. The uniform head of the movement is the Dominion Chief Scout, who is usually the Governor-General.

The Scout area is composed of several Scout districts which are based on localities. Each district contains several Scout groups consisting of Wolf Cub Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Venturer Scout Units, and Rover Crews. It is in these latter units that the training of the boy is accomplished. This is achieved by a pattern of training, progress through which is marked by a series of achievement and proficiency tests for which badges are awarded. The tests are carried out at regular weekly meetings and weekend and annual camps. Scout leaders are also trained, and for this purpose a training headquarters is established at Tatum Park, near Manakau, Levin.

Today (1965) the movement is expanding rapidly and is the largest voluntary youth movement in the country. Its present membership is approximately 42,000, of whom some 4,400 are uniformed officers. In addition over 11,642 lay persons actively support the movement at all stages and provide the administrative support for the uniformed sections. There are over 850 Scout groups in the country.

The Dominion headquarters of the movement in New Zealand are at Central House, Brandon Street, Wellington.

by Alistair Hugh MacLean Millar, Assistant Dominion Secretary, Boy Scouts' Association, Wellington.

• Standard reference works are Scouting for Boys, The Wolf Cub Handbook, and Rovering to Success, all by Lord Baden-Powell. The handbook on Venturer Scouting, by various authors, is entitled The Venturer Scout Leader's Handbook and is published by Scout Headquarters, Wellington.

BOYS' BRIGADE

The Boys' Brigade is the pioneer voluntary, uniformed youth organisation started in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1883 by Sir William A. Smith with a company of 30 boys and three officers. It has grown into an international organisation with members in over 50 different countries, with Her Majesty the Queen as Patron. Three million boys have passed through its ranks.

The first companies in New Zealand began in 1889 in Auckland and Timaru. The movement flourished elsewhere until about 1914 when, owing to lack of trained leadership, companies went out of existence. The Brigade was revived in 1926 with the founding of the 1st Dunedin Company, and has grown steadily ever since. The organisation is now soundly established everywhere. Companies and teams are normally connected with churches, but may also be associated with schools, clubs, or institutions. The movement takes boys from the ages of nine to 18 and works in two sections. The junior reserve, comprising the nine to 11 age group, is called “The Life Boys”. After three years in the Life Boy team, they are transferred to the Boys' Brigade Company. Religion and discipline are the “twin-pillars” upon which the Brigade system has been built, the ultimate purpose being to develop a sound Christian character. This is clearly set out in the Object – viz., “The advancement of Christ's Kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self Respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness”. The motto is “Sure and Stedfast” in the Authorised Version text and spelling (Hebrews vi, 19).

The Brigade method of training recognises that the exuberant vitality and boundless energies of boys need to be directed into proper channels through an attractive, purposeful, and progressive programme of activity. This includes drill, physical training, gymnastics, first aid, signalling, lifesaving, bands, athletics, camping, nature study, handicrafts, scripture knowledge, seamanship, etc. A carefully graded scheme of certificates and badges now works as an incentive – the highest award being the Queen's Badge. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme has been adopted by the Brigade. There are three standards of attainment – bronze, silver, and gold in each of the four sections – rescue and public service, expeditions, pursuits and projects, and physical fitness.

The boys' uniform comprises a field service cap, white haversack, and black belt worn with a navy shirt and navy shorts (or longs). Promotion to the ranks of lance corporal, corporal, and sergeant provides training in leadership and responsibility. His Excellency the Governor-General is the New Zealand Patron. The Brigade (N.Z.) Council controls the movement. It comprises all officers and meets annually. An executive committee is elected annually on a territorial basis and meets quarterly. Companies in cities, towns, and districts are formed into battalions or groups. There are at present 10 battalions and seven groups. A comprehensive scheme of training for officers, non-commissioned officers, and leaders is proving most effective.

The New Zealand Council has extended the movement in the Pacific Islands, mainly in Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, British Solomon Islands, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, and the New Hebrides. Full-time organisers appointed and supported by New Zealand are working in Samoa and the Solomons. The Brigade has 12,000 members in New Zealand in 220 companies and 228 Life Boy teams, comprising 1,334 officers, instructors, and staff sergeants; 610 Life Boy leaders; 9,898 boys (1965). There are also 3,618 Pacific Island members in 78 companies and 51 teams: 240 officers and instructors, 102 leaders, and 3,132 boys.

by Alford Dornan, New Zealand Secretary, Boys' Brigade, Wellington.

GIRL GUIDES

The Girl Guides movement officially started in New Zealand in 1923, though in 1909 Colonel Cosgrove, a New Zealand Boer War veteran who had met Sir Robert Baden-Powell and had talked with him about scouting, formed the Girl Peace Scouts, on the model of the Boy Scouts Association. The Peace Scouts wore long khaki dresses, hats turned up at the sides, carried staves on all occasions, and always had a bugler. In 1923, the Dominion Council realised the advantages of being linked with an international movement and became registered with the original Girl Guides Association in London. “Cavell”, one of the first Peace Scout Companies to be formed in Auckland, wore their khaki uniforms for the last time at a hike on a certain Saturday in 1923, and on the following Sunday paraded at church as Girl Guides dressed in navy blue.

The aim of the movement is to train girls between the ages of eight and 21 years in citizenship through a series of healthy, happy, outdoor and indoor activities. Every member of the movement, when enrolled, must make the following promise, which is the basis of training:

The New Zealand organisation is divided into 15 provinces – Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, East Coast, Taranaki, Manawatu, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough, Westland, North Canterbury, South Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. These are again divided into divisions and the divisions into districts. Each province, division, and district is administered by a commissioner, and within the districts are the companies and packs. A pack consists of 24 Brownies (8–11 years); a company consists of 36 Guides (11–16 years); and girls between the ages of 16 and 21 years have the choice of belonging to a Land Ranger Company, a Sea Ranger Company, or an Air Ranger Flight, or of being cadets (leaders in training). The leaders of the packs and companies are called guiders and all work voluntarily. Guides in the Cook Islands and Western Samoa come under the care of the New Zealand Headquarters at Christchurch. The New Zealand movement is a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, which has nearly 7 million members in 51 countries; 32 other countries are working towards membership. At present there are 33,198 members in New Zealand, comprising 6,143 adult leaders, 548 cadets and rangers, 13,122 guides, and 13,385 brownies.

by Marie Louise Dansey Iles, M.B.E., General Secretary, New Zealand Girl Guides Association, Christchurch.

• Trefoil Around the World, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (1959)
• Scouting for Boys, Baden-Powell, R. S. S. (thirty-second edition, 1960).

GIRLS' LIFE BRIGADE (INC.)

The Girls' Life Brigade was formed in England in 1902. It is international and interdenominational. The movement was introduced by the National Sunday School Union, which is the union of Sunday schools of all denominations. The need was felt to follow up the work done in the Sunday schools by providing a week-night activity for the girls – an organisation where, in a wholesome and happy atmosphere and under good leadership, the girls might find an outlet for their energies, satisfy their need for companionship, and have an opportunity to use and develop their gifts and qualities.

The movement has become increasingly popular as a Church youth organisation, because it holds girls in the Sunday school and Bible classes, and at the same time trains them to become useful Christian citizens. The movement spread rapidly throughout the world and, in 1928, the first New Zealand company was started in Dunedin at the Caversham Baptist Church, following the formation there two years previously of a Boys' Brigade unit.

The brigade aims at helping and encouraging girls to become responsible, self-reliant and useful Christian women. Discipline is designed to develop a strong and healthy physique by physical exercises of various kinds and by instruction in personal hygiene; and to encourage habits of punctuality, promptitude, reliability, self-respect, self-control, courtesy, alertness, intelligence, and presence of mind in emergencies, by training in drill, first aid, home nursing, lifesaving, and the like. The girls are encouraged to dedicate themselves to the service of God by means of total abstinence from intoxicants, association with a Christian organisation, and the fellowship and influence of their officers.

Laws and Promises

G.L.B. 1. Be loyal to your Sunday school and Church. 2. Abstain from intoxicating drink. 3. Be pure and true in thought, word and deed. 4. Be kind, cheerful and courteous. 5. Promptly obey the orders of officers. 6. Remember the G.L.B. motto: “To Save Life”. “I promise to do my utmost to keep the G.L.B. law in letter and spirit.”

Cadets: 1. A cadet loves and helps those at home. 2. A cadet tries to help other people every day. 3. A cadet remembers her motto: “Trying Hard”. She promises: “I promise to try hard to do and be the very best I can for Jesus' sake”. Pioneers: “I promise to be loyal to God and His Church, to honour the G.L.B. law, and in all things to show a spirit of service”.

The Girls' Life Brigade is a uniformed organisation, the age groups having different insignia. The company is attached to a church, Sunday school, or other religious organisation, which is responsible for its proper conduct, and especially for ensuring that the religious part of the work is consistently maintained. Commissioned officers are, in the first place, selected by the officials of the church or other religious organisation to which the company is attached, and appointments are approved by headquarters. The company may consist of one or more of the following sections: cadets, six to nine years; juniors, 10 to 12 years; seniors, 12 to 15 years; pioneers, 15 years of age and over. There are 384 companies of over 19,000 members, comprising 1,411 officers, 1,347 pioneers, 2,542 seniors, 6,131 juniors, 7,707 cadets, and helpers.

The aim of the Girls' Life Brigade is carried out by a four-square programme of social, physical, educational, and spiritual work. The social includes games, socials, picnics, and competitions with other companies; the physical includes country dancing, physical education, swimming, rambling; the educational, citizenship, hobbies, first aid, infant care, music, etc.; and the spiritual includes a devotional period each company night, and the study of such subjects as Bible knowledge and missionary enterprise. Badges are awarded for proficiency in the work in the junior and senior groups, braids for success in the pioneer venture, and stars are worked for in the cadet programme.

The Girls' Life Brigade New Zealand National Headquarters are in the Auckland Sunday School Union Buildings, 323 Queen Street, Auckland, and consist of secretarial and equipment sections. The organisation is served by the organising secretary and two field officers, assistant secretary, equipment secretary, and other office workers. The organisation is controlled by a national council, which is formed by voluntary workers in charge of the companies and national officials – president, vice-president, national chaplain, officers commanding cadets and pioneers. An executive committee, comprising representatives from 17 regional areas, meets three times a year. National training is carried out at the G.L.B. training centre at Waikanae, Wellington.

The present members of the Girls' Life Brigade have given, through donations, enough funds to provide shelters in Jordan and Hong Kong. They have also adopted a school in Hong Kong through “Save the Children Fund”. Members of the Girls' Life Brigade help with CORSO appeals. The G.L.B. in New Zealand is also responsible for the work in the south-west Pacific and the organising secretary frequently visits Niue, Samoa, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and New Hebrides. Over the past year much emphasis has been placed on the pioneer group (15 years and over), and training camps have been held in different parts of the Dominion. Social service is given through Sunday school and Bible class teaching, voluntary work in hospitals, old people's homes, and children's orphanages.

by Gladys Mary Gebbie, Organising Secretary, Girls' Life Brigade, Auckland.

HERITAGE

The idea of Heritage, an organisation to provide the sons of deceased servicemen with the advice and guidance that would have been available to them had their fathers lived, was inspired by the operation of Australia's “Legacy Clubs. The idea was brought forward at a meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce on 1 May 1941 and, as a result, the Heritage movement was incorporated on 10 August 1942 with a membership of 325. Membership of Heritage is not restricted to returned servicemen, but since its beginning it has worked in close cooperation with the Returned Services' Association. The principal work devolves upon the sponsors, who are carefully chosen, because the success of the scheme depends on the happy relationship between the sponsor and the child, for soon after its inception Heritage was extended to care both for boys and for girls. The sponsor, who must be a man, sees the child regularly and reports at once if there is anything that Heritage can do to further the child's interests.

By the time the first annual conference was held on 19 July 1944 there were 10 branches of Heritage, with over 2,000 members. Under the patronage of Lord Freyberg, Heritage funds were increased by over £20,000 through his arranging for money to be diverted from various trusts and funds. Such was his interest that while he was Governor-General he insisted on each annual conference being held at Government House in his presence, and he made many helpful suggestions then and at other times.

Heritage has never made a public appeal for funds, but voluntary donations have allowed the work to expand until today over £23,000 is being spent annually. In the past 20 years upwards of 5,000 children have been assisted.

by John Sidney Gully, M.A., DIP.N.Z.L.S., Assistant Chief Librarian, General Assembly Library, Wellington.

• The Story of Heritage, Mazengarb, O. C. (1962).

OUTWARD BOUND

The Outward Bound Trust, which was established in the United Kingdom in 1941 and whose first school was opened in Aberdovey in that year, is an organisation which aims to give boys from all walks of life an opportunity of training through the sea, mountains, or other natural elements, as a means of developing their own capacity to face hazards, difficulties, hardship, and emergencies of all kinds. It presents to each boy a set of conditions necessary to give him, possibly for the first time, the opportunity to discover himself. These conditions demand self-discipline, teamwork, adventure, and some hardship and risk. The schools are based on a Christian foundation, but without political or sectarian bias. The idea behind Outward Bound was based on experiments carried out prior to the Second World War by Kurt Hahn, then Headmaster of Gordonstoun, and Lawrence Holt, shipowner. In March 1953 His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh became patron of the movement and since then has given it much active encouragement and help.

The Outward Bound Trust in New Zealand came into being on 19 April 1961, though in the preceding February the first pilot-scheme school had been held at Motutapu Island. Firms, local bodies, societies, institutions, and individuals can become foundation life members of the trust by paying £100. Individuals by paying two guineas a year may become annual members. Members have the right to nominate a student, provided he is between 15½ and 19 years of age; they must also accept responsibility for providing the fee for the course.

The first Outward Bound school, Cobham School, the former guest house “Anakiwa” in Queen Charlotte Sound, was opened on 1 September 1962 by Lord Cobham, after whom it was named as a tribute to his deep interest and active support of the trust and its ideals. The first course at Cobham School was held from 20 October to 12 November 1962. It is planned to have about 550 youths participating annually in these 23-day courses.

by John Sidney Gully, M.A., DIP.N.Z.L.S., Assistant Chief Librarian, General Assembly Library, Wellington.

YMCA

Young Men's Christian Association

The Young Men's Christian Association of New Zealand is part of a world-wide organisation, including boys and men and (in many cases where there is no YWCA) girls and women of all races, and of all Christian and many other faiths. The movement was begun in Auckland by A. H. Shalders in 1855, 11 years after the establishment of the first association in London in 1844. Branches were soon set up throughout the colony. Although each city YMCA is independent in organisation, all YMCAs are bound together by common purpose and mutual support, in that the association “seeks to unite those young men who, regarding Jesus Christ as their God and Saviour according to the Holy Scriptures, desire to be His disciples in their faith and in their life, and to their associate efforts for the extension of His Kingdom among young men”.

Purposes

The purpose of the association is to contribute towards the building of a Christian society. The YMCA, therefore, helps to develop Christian standards of living, conduct, and life purposes in its members and constituency by offering a design for living and for the enrichment of leisure. It seeks to promote the physical, mental, spiritual, and social welfare of persons and to stress reverence for God, responsibility for the common good, respect for personality, and the application of the “Golden Rule” in human relationships. To achieve the purposes of its programme, the YMCA (i) employs persons as YMCA secretaries who accept the religious and educational standards set down; (ii) enlists adult volunteers who are sympathetic with the purposes of the association and who have potential for youth leadership; (iii) develops training courses for its leaders to give them an understanding of how children and youth develop, and teaches them how to work with groups; (iv) organises small friendship groups as the basis for its programme in the fields of religious, social, and physical education; (v) develops group activities which stress the needs of each member, and in which members are encouraged to make individual and group decisions and accept responsibility; (vi) gives youth a chance to get personal counselling and guidance on religious, educational, and social problems; (vii) encourages family-group activities whereby YMCA members share in the application of principles of Christian living; (viii) teaches members to accept the privileges and responsibilities of Christian citizenship in the family, in their own groups, and in community life, and to understand the purpose of democracy and strive to solve its problems; and (ix) helps youth to find satisfaction in unselfish service and to increase their sense of Christian brotherhood with all men.

The YMCAs comprise 18 city associations and 23 branches. There are 16 ladies' auxiliaries. Eleven associations organise camps for boys during the school holidays, and the National Council runs an adventure camp each year. The associations also give courses in leadership training. The association's buildings everywhere are used largely for and by the general community.

by George Frederick Briggs, National Secretary, Young Men's Christian Association, Wellington.

YWCA

Young Women's Christian Association of New Zealand (Inc.)

The Young Women's Christian Association, an international, interdenominational fellowship of women and girls, functions in over 70 countries, with membership open to women of all races, creeds, and colours. The YWCA of New Zealand is in full affiliation with the parent body, the World YWCA, which has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

The YWCA was founded in Great Britain in 1855 and rapidly spread to other countries. The first association in the Southern Hemisphere was opened in Dunedin in 1878. Other associations were developed and in 1907 they joined with YWCAs in Australia to form the YWCA of Australasia. This affiliation lasted until 1926 when it was decided to form two separate, fully autonomous national associations, each with its own affiliation to the World YWCA.

The YWCA is an educational and character-building organisation designed to adapt its programme to meet the particular needs of any given group. Broadly speaking, its programme offers physical, social, mental, and spiritual education to the women and girls of the country, and this is done in a variety of ways and places. The YWCA of New Zealand has a membership of over 5,000 women and girls, and in addition it serves countless hundreds who pass through the hostels, attend classes, or make use of the various facilities of the association. An occupational analysis shows that the membership is made up of schoolgirls, of students, workers in industrial, clerical, trade, and professional fields, and of home makers.

Each YWCA in a local centre enjoys autonomy in the control of its own affairs and has its own constitution and board of directors. By means of committees of the board, and of groups which direct their own programme, opportunity is offered at different levels for practical experience in democratic procedure, and for the development of members' latent powers of leadership. The local associations of Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Wellington, Hutt Valley, Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin, and Gore together form the national body – the YWCA of New Zealand. The governing body of the national movement is the National Board consisting of representatives of each local association together with a Headquarters executive and staff who administer the work between meetings of quadrennial conventions of the movement. The national headquarters of the association are situated in Wellington.

Throughout the years the YWCA has planned its programme to meet changing needs. This adaptability was most clearly demonstrated during the war periods when the association devoted much of its work to the needs of women engaged in various spheres of war work. One particular contribution was the accommodating of girls and women in hostels in various parts of the country. The YWCA has been running hostels for girls since its inception, and today this is still an integral part of the programme.

Most associations in New Zealand have residential clubs (as they are now called), offering a Christian home to young women needing to work away from their home centres. While accommodation is offered to many groups, the association feels its first responsibility is towards the younger girls, particularly to those away from home for the first time. A new venture is the setting up of “Self-Service” residences which offer girls a measure of independence while still giving them the protective care and the discipline of a YWCA hostel. In these clubs the girls provide and cook their own meals, thereby learning something of such matters as housekeeping, budgeting, and hostessing.

In a number of instances local associations are extending their work into suburban and surrounding districts, thus offering women and girls club facilities in their own home area. One association is working with younger members in two Maori pas and with schoolgirls in a farming district 15 miles distant. New housing areas present another opening for YWCA Club work for girls and women in areas where there are few cultural and social amenities.

The YWCA's concern, as a Christian fellowship of women, is for the provision of opportunities for women and girls to grow into fullness of life. It seeks a Christian way of living, both as its goal and as its method of work.

by Eileen Higgs, National General Secretary, Young Women's Christian Association, Wellington.

YOUTH HOSTELS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND (Inc.)

The Youth Hostels Association seeks to provide simple accommodation for the night and a friendly community atmosphere for young people travelling across country, usually on foot or by bicycle. Membership of a Youth Hostel Association in any country entitles one to become a member of the International Youth Hostels Federation, with associations in nearly every country in the world. In most European countries there is a chain of hostels within walking distance of each other where beds and beddings, cooking facilities, and a common room are provided. As it is a non-profit-making organisation, each person staying in a hostel is expected to do one household task before leaving. Hostels have been established in all types of buildings such as ancient castles, cottages, and ships at anchor. In New Zealand even an out-moded tramcar has been put to use.

The Youth Hostels Association was first formed in New Zealand in 1932, in Canterbury, where farmers often made available some farm building or a portion of their homes. In 1955 a National Council was formed and since then growth has been rapid. Though in New Zealand it is a voluntary organisation, by 1965 there were 39 hostels, eight of which were added in 1964, and over 7,000 members. The objects of the association are given as: “To help all, but especially young people, to a greater knowledge, love, and care of the countryside through the provision of hostels or other simple accommodation for them in their travels, and to promote their health and education”.

by Olive Rita Croker, M.A., Botanist, Wellington.