BOY SCOUTS.
INCREASED INTEREST IN COLONY.
TWO DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS.

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   The annual meeting of the Hong Kong Boy Scouts' Association will be held in the St. John's Cathedral Hall this afternoon, when, it is announced, His Excellency the Governor will be present.
   The report of the past year's work states, inter alia, that the number of boys receiving training in the Movement has increased, and Saiwan is beginning to justify its existence as a training centre. The Colony has now been divided into two District Associations with distinct advantage to the oversight of the Groups, and there seemed to be fuller and keener realisation of the open air essence of Scouting. The formation of the District Associations also has the effect of relieving the Headquarters Staff and the Council of much detail work in connection with the actual running of the Groups, setting them free to direct the general policy of the Branch and its finances, and also to act as a connecting link between the Districts and Imperial Headquarters. The Districts will, however, leave the raising of funds and the control thereof to the Council in order to avoid overlapping. The Rev. E.A.Armstrong has been appointed District Commissioner for Kowloon.

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Finances.

   Dealing with finances the report states:
   We require the sum of $16,000 to clear off the mortgage on Saiwan, but we need yet more to enable us thoroughly to put the property in good order, to instal a more satisfactory water supply and sanitary system, and to erect additional rooms for storage, etc., at the foot of the garden. We are very grateful to Mr. Tang Shiu-kin for his great generosity in promising to pay for the equipment required for training purposes.
   We regret that for various reasons the publication of the Silver Wolf magazine has apparently failed during the year. This is due to two causes, financial and editorial. It has been proved that the style and get up is too ambitious and that the work of Editor is more than can be expected of already hard worked Commissioners. Even a quarterly production is enough work for one man without any additional Scout responsibilities, so that if anyone is willing to help by becoming Editor of our Magazine which in future will be produced in a simpler style, he will be received with open arms.

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Our Future.

   There is no reason why this should not be exceptionally bright, but there is one great obstacle in the way of the attainment of absolute brilliancy, and that is the lack of Scouters. There are a great number of men in the Colony who were Scouts in their boyhood, or who helped to run Scout Troops or Cub Packs before coming East. Many of them, we know, have their time already filled up with business, Chinese studies, H.K.V.D.C. and so on, but we often hear it said that there is nothing to do in Hong Kong. Here quite definitely is something that is waiting to be done. Scouting requires just common sense, and a study of the Handbooks. The rest required comes with experience, though the system of Officers' Training makes things much easier and prevents grievous mistakes. To such old Scouts we make a special appeal for help. There are others who have not been Scouts but while realising the value of the Movement, hesitate to take the plunge. To them we appeal no less urgently to "Come on in. It's jolly fine."