BOYS’ TOUR PLANNED BY OVERSEAS LEAGUE

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28222, 9 March 1957, Page 10

BOYS’ TOUR PLANNED BY OVERSEAS LEAGUE

Twelve senior secondary schoolboys will be sent on a four months’ tour of Britain next year by the Overseas League, New Zealand, provided branches of the league agree with the scheme, the league’s general secretary for New Zealand (Mr D. W. Bam) said in Christchurch yesterday. “Although branches have until March 15 to reach their decisions, none has yet declined and five have definitely approved and accepted responsibility for one, and in some cases, two boys.’’ Mr Bain said. The league has branches in Auckland, Waikato, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, Wellington, Christchurch, South Canterbury, Oamaru, Dunedin, and Southland. The Government has offered the league a grant of up to £lOOO for the scheme, the approximate total cost of which for 12 boys and an escort will be £4OOO, leaving the league to raise £3OOO. The cost for one boy, including a percentage of the escort's expenses, will be £250, and each branch has been asked to sponsor a boy and raise this sum within its district.

In a letter to branches, the New Zealand president of the Overseas League (Mr A. I. Cottrell) said: “This is in the nature of a great experiment in Commonwealth relations and provides a tangible opportunity for our league in this country to give a practical bias to the ideals for which we stand. “The generosity of the New Zealand Government is most heartening. Obviously the scheme appeals to the Government as one well worthy of carrying out.” The boys selected for the tour must be in the post-University Entrance sixth form year. The scheme has the approval of the Education Department, and the four months spent overseas will be credited towards Higher School Certificate. All schools which have an upper sixth form will be sent application forms by the New Zealand headquarters of the league. The type of boy which the league intends to send is one who has a good all-round school record, is of good character, will be a reliable representative of New Zealand, and is competent to benefit from such a tour, particularly in the strengthening of his interest in Commonwealth development and relations. Berths Reserved Berths have been reserved for 12 boys and an escort in the Rangitiki, which will leave New Zealand about March 8, 1958, and in the Rangitoto, leaving London about June 6, 1958.

All travel and accommodation in Britain will be arranged by the world headquarters of the Overseas League. For most of the tour the party will travel in its own bus.

The tour will begin with at least a week in London, after which the party will tour the south of England, travel to Scotland by way of the western counties and return to London for at least another week by way of the east coast- Most of the sightseeing and the educational side of the tour will be arranged by British branches of the league and most accommodation will be at private billets with league members or at league premises.