Wednesday's papers contain the announcement that General Sir Robert Baden-Powell's
name had been placed on the Retired List, as it is his intention to devote himself in the future entirely to the Boy Scout movement. We desire to take this opportunity of expressing to General Baden-Powell our strong appreciation of and sympathy for the work he has undertaken. In our opinion, it would be difficult to exaggerate the prospects for good which lie before the Boy Scout move- ment. He could not devote himself to any cause which would be likely to confer greater benefits on his country. The
advantage of the Boy Scout movement is that it embraces all sections of the population and all creeds on a thoroughly democratic basis, and that it is in the very highest and best sense a school of patriotism. It has a further advantage in the fact that it is a great deal less expensive and more elastic than the Cadet and Boys' Brigade organisations. We have not a word to say against those organisations, and realise that they have done and are doing admirable work, but un- doubtedly the Boy Scouts, owing to the economy and elasticity of which we have spoken, can reach small villages and isolated districts in a way not possible to the older societies. When a body of Boy Scouts move out for a field day, they provide their own transport in the light hand-carts containing tents and other equipment which they drag them- selves up the steepest of hills. This ability to get on by themselves and not be dependent upon outside help is characteristic, and we hope will remain so.
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