Papuans Make Keen
pp. 76-77 · Read in the full issue
1952 Report Shows That:
Papuans Make Keen Scouts
HHHERE are over 900 members oi the Scouting movement—Scouts Scouters and Cubs—in Papua-Nev.
Guinea. Although statistics do noi tell the whole story, they give an indication of the health of the move: ment in a country which the outside world still fondly imagines is ini habited exclusively by cannibals ano tom-tom players.
Rabaul has two Chinese Scoui troops, a Chinese Cub pack and 21 Malayan Scouts and Cubs. There is a European Cub pack in Moresby but the overwhelming majority are natives—most of them from Papus where the movement is enthusias tically supported. (When Colone and Mrs. Murray left Port Moresby 500 Scouts turned out to say fare well.) Scout-masters are usually drawn from the European community although there are some native SM’s.
Many of the Missions, Catholic as well as Protestant, have their troops.
In his report at the annual meet ing held in Port Moresby in early September, the Commissioner foe P-NG, Mr. W. C. Groves, said that Scouting has extended into new fields during the year and because Sea Scouting had an irresistible appeal to coastal people, a number of new. groups in this branch were forming.
He said that it was hoped to send a large contingent to the Pan- Pacific Jamboree to be held near Sydney in December this year. Some; government aid had been promised and groups throughout the Territory were working hard to raise funds.
Sufficient funds (£1,200), were im hand for a start to be made on the erection of a Territorial headquarters in Port Moresby. Application hadl been made for a block of land near Hanuabada. When the building was complete it would be a focal point! for visiting scouts as well as a meet ing place for local ones.
Mr. Groves summed up Scouting! in the Territory as a very “successful! venture in the field of youth work.”' He thanked all who had assisted ini the movement and particularly' Assistant-Commissioner N. Sendy' who in addition to handling a large? volume of administrative work had! the onerous job of Quartermaster.
Election of officers for the follow ing year resulted as follows: President: The meeting unanimously' expressed its wish that the Acting Ad--
ministrator, Mr. D. M. Cleland, be invited to take office as President of the Local Association.
Vice-Presidents: (Elected) Chief Justice Mr. F. B. Phillips, Mr. Justice R. T. Gore, Mr. Justice E. B. Bignold, Mr. Justice A.
Kelly, Mr. H. H. Reeve, Mr. M. J.
Healy. Rev. P. Chatterton; Chairman (Re-elected): Mr. L. K. Allen; Secretary (Re-elected): Mr. R. Thom son; Treasurer (Re-elected): Mr. H. Powell; Badge Secretary (Elected): Mr. K Harris; Executive Committee (Re-elected); Lieut.-Col Maddern, Messrs. W. C. Steele, W. Bock, J. Beilby, S. Fox, Rev. H.
Randall, Rev. D. lire, Mrs. A. C. G.
Price, Mr. J. Black, Mr. G. Crouch; (New Members): Father Bohl, Mr. M.
Tolhurst, Mr. E. Loder, Mr. H. A. Stubbs, Mr. F. M. Nolan; Auditor (Elected): Mr. Griffin.