Scouts Got Soil From Hutt River

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30961, 18 January 1966, Page 10

Scouts Got Soil From Hutt River

(New Zealand Press Association) BLENHEIM, January 17. No Australian soil had been brought into New Zealand, Mr K. J. Brewster, of Melbourne, leader of the 460-strong Australian contingent to the Progress Jamboree at Trentham last week, said this morning.

In a jamboree stunt the Australian scouts proclaimed the North Island the eighth state of Australia and buried a bag of “Australian soil” at Trentham Memorial Park, where the jamboree was held. The soil had come from the banks of the Hutt river and not from Australia, Mr Brewster said. No Australian scout or scouter would have been stupid enough to do such a

silly thing as bring Australian soil with him.

Soil is a prohibited import. Mr Brewster said he had discussed the matter this morning with the DirectorGeneral of Agriculture (Mr D. N. R. Webb), who understood the situation. The ceremony had been the sort of hoax repeatedly indulged in at jamborees, Mr Brewster said. The New Zealand scouts had understood this and had taken revenge by issuing mock notices of illegal entry. Mr Brewster, with 250 Australian scouts who attended the jamboree, is visiting Blenheim before going to Christchurch to fly back to Melbourne at the week-end.