SCHOOLBOYS ON TOUR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 October 1924, Page 5

SCHOOLBOYS ON TOUR.

TO EXPAND EDUCATION. AUSTRALIAN SCHEME. (by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATIONAUCKLAND, Oct. 13. Forty-nine Australian-born boys cliGse;n,,frqm public schools of the eastern States of the Commonwealth arrived at Auckland by the Niagara- today in the course of a world tour undertaken to expand their education. The cruise, which started from Sydney on February 16, was arranged by the New South Wales division of the Young Australia League, whose object is expressed in the phrase, “ Education by travel.” The youths have been under the charge of Captain C. A. Brough, director of the New South Wales division of the league. The party reached London on March 30 and then began a hustling six weeks of travel and sight-seeing. The boys were present at the opening of the Empire Exhibition and were the guests of the Australian Government at the opening of the Australian Govern-, ment’s pavilion. In addition to visiting the usual places of note in London the young Australians attended a reception given by the Prince of Wales at St. James’ Palace, when the Prince interviewed each boy separately. They ■were also received by the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace, when Their Majesties chatted freely with their guests for about half an hour. The party visited Paris, when Marshal Focli and General Pau received them, and they visited some of the notable battlefields. Afterwards an extended tour of Britain was undertaken, after which they went to Canada, where many centres were visited. The boys travelled 41,000 miles, visited 77 industrial centres, 54 abbeys, cathedrals and + churches, and travelled in six steamers. With the exception of France and Honolulu the ports visited have all been British.

“In every way the cruise proved a marvellous success,” said Captain Brough. “The hoys have come back physically and mentally far superior to what they were at the start. Roughly speaking, the boys range in age from 14 to 18, and it is significant that on the average they have each gained about a stone in weight. The object of our league is to foster the true spirit of Imperialism and ‘Australianism,’ and certainly by the cruise the boys have acquired a far more comprehensive realisation of the doings of the Empire. The whole financing was arranged by the New South Wales division of the league, with no Government assistance.”