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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 11, No. 6. June 3rd, 1948

Boy Scouts

Boy Scouts

Dear Sir,—Mr. B. J. Connelly refers to my attendance at the Sydney Scout Jamboree in 1938/39 and asks my comment on his letter. On re-reading the article he objects to, I must Uphold the original criticisms.

Scouting introduced many good methods basic to any youth organization—the appeal to the adventuristic spirit and outdoor life, to the altruism of youth and the ideal of service; character training and leadership through the patrol system. Nevertheless the criticism in the article remains valid.

It stated that large gatherings of youth in Jamborees were ineffective for peace as they failed to expose the mainspring of the drive to war. I would have added in "Fascist Imperialism" Imperialism is the domination of one country by another through monopoly and finance capital. Fascism is the open terroristic dictatorship of finance capital, with suppression of labour unions and workers' organizations, The Jambo-Ree Sun" newspaper contains some ineffective woolly pleas for peace, but no mention of Fascism or Germany—this on the eve of war.

Mr. Connelly admits that scouting takes no interest in inadequate apprenticeship training, social reform; education, sweating and low pay are surely of vital concern to youth and not narrow party matters.

Imperialism and the drive to war are with us again. Their citadel is America and the war-mongers of that country are echoed by others, including our local university war [unclear: monger], J. F. Little. We must learn the lesson of 1939 and unite all youth and people's organizations for peace while time still remains.

Ron Smith.