JAMBOREE PROBLEMS

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31539, 29 November 1967, Page 18

JAMBOREE PROBLEMS

Planners for the scout jamboree to be held at Kaiapoi in January, 1969, have yet to solve two problems—one great and the other unusual.

The chief executive commissioner of the Scout Association of New Zealand (Mr S. O. Fields) and the association’s activities officer (Mr F. J. Moselen) were in Christchurch yesterday to see for themselves just how the planing was going. Mr Fields said that planners had to make arrangements for up to 8000 boys and adults who were expected to attend the jamboree. “We will build a tent town, which for the ten days of the jamboree will be one of the biggest towns in Canterbury, apart from Christchurch,” Mr Fields said. Arrangements would have to be made to transport those attending to and from the jamboree, feed them while they were there, and entertain those attending, he said. . Already a number of leading Canterbury citizens had offered their help and committees had been set up to cover such items as jamboree administration, entertainment, and finance. “This is a $200,000 exercise and basically most of the money will come from jamboree fees paid by those attending—about 90 per cent” Already the first stage of publicity for the jamboree had been completed in New Zealand and overseas. “We expect about 1000 overseas visitors—about 700 from Australia and there is a promise of a contingent from Sweden,” Mr Fields said. Many Christchurch groups

with particular interests would help with the activities, which included flying and gliding, skin-diving, and the collection and mounting of gem stones.

“Our greatest problem is transport. There are not enough wheels, other than bicycles—which are not suitable—in Christchurch. We will need 50 buses daily. “For instance, if the main aquatic activities are held at Lake Forsyth, as expected,

there is just not enough transport available in Christchurch to cope with moving the boys from the camp to the lake. “However, we are working on it and with co-operation from transport operators and planning we expect to solve the problem.” The planners’ unusual problem lies in providing toilet facilities for the tent town. "We are giving this some deep thought,” Mr Fields said.