TOURING SCHOOLBOYS.

Auckland Star, Issue 38, 14 February 1929, Page 9

TOURING SCHOOLBOYS.

ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND.

LOOKING FOR INFORMATION,

SEVEN WEEKS IN DOMINION.

Some years ago a committee was formed by the Right Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, Secretary of State for the ■Biitisli Commonwealth of Nations, in older to make it possible for boys in their last year at public schools in England to visit, at reasonable cost, the different parts of the Empire. Two previous tours—one to South Africa and the other to Canada —proved most successful. The third tour, that to New Zealand and Australia, was even more ambitious, and it commenced at Waterloo station, London, and was continued on board the lonic from Southampton, through the Panama Canal, and this morning the party of 45 touring schoolboys arrived in Auckland. They were met by representatives of the local committee in the persons of Canon Archdall, chairman, Dr. E. P. Neale, secretary, and Air. K. H. Wilson, assistantsecretary. .Mr. Francis Portal, au old Wykehamist, who arrived in New Zealand a month ahead of the party to make arrangements for their seven weeks' visit, and Air. Ardell, of the New Zealand Government Internal Affairs Department, went out to the lonic to bid the boys welcome before the vessel berthed at the Prince's wharf. The director in charge is Mr. J. R. Darling, an old Reptonian, who is a master at Charterhouse, and he is supported by Lieutenant Grenfell SmithDorrien, an old Harrovian, of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, and Mr. M. Scott. Dr. M. J. Rendall, late headmaster of Winchester, chairman, and the Hon. Margaret Best, secretary, travelled to Southampton with the party after an official send-off at Waterloo station, where Sir James Parr and Dr. Rendall made speeches. Messages were read from Mr. Amery and Lord Jellicoe, and the Prince of Wales cabled his good wishes to Colon. The Mayor of Southampton and Mr. Currie, Southampton manager of the White Star Line, wished them bon voyage on board the lonic. Apart from one or two days shortly after leaving England, the weather experienced by the party was good, and the many entertainments provided by the Sports Committee made the tiive pass well.

Those in charge of the boys spoke in high praise of the officers, especially Commander W. Lloyd, Mr. E. W. Lancaster, the purser, and Mr. D. Newall, chief steward, and the passengers for the manner in which the party were treated, and, as one official put it, "We are very grateful for the tolerance which they displayed towards our invasion." En Route to New Zealand. During the voyage the boys attended lectures each day. Many of these talks were about Empire problems, countries and places. Particular reference was made to New Zealand, and, later, debates were held. Special articles were written by the hoys on what they had been told, and seen en route, and prizes were distributed. The visitors were tendered a luncheon this afternoon, subsequent to which they were motored to Waiatarua. This evening will be free, and the party will leave Auckland en route to the Waitomo Caves to-morrow morning. They will later travel through Taranaki on their way to Wellington and the South Island. The return voyage will be made on board the Morton Bay, a steamer which touches at Australian ports, Colombo, Suez, Port Said and Malta. It is hoped to leave the boat at Suez, so that visits can be made to Cairo and the Pyramids. According to passengers on board the lonic, the boys had been the most interesting feature of sea life, and greatly added to the various entertainments. Mr. M. Scott, who has conducted at Royal Albert Hall, was instrumental in arranging concerts and other musical forms of entertainment. The boys gave concerts of their own, and actually staged a revue which was called "This Tour of Grace." All of the lads entered the sports with that absolute abandon so characteristic of the English Public School boy. Features were the boxing contests in which the captain of Charterhouse boxing team "had a go" at the captain of the Harrow team. The boys, who are a clean-cut, intelligent lot of young men, were described as wellmannered, courteous, thinking of everyone but themselves.

"They are typical young Englishmen, who could be regarded as men, in the making, who would stop at nothing in an emergency. They appear to have been born to command, be it on the playing fields, in the Navy, on the field of battle, or in commercial life. Above all, they are most cheerful companions," said a returning New Zealaiuler, who was also a passenger on the lonic.