COMMISSIONER’S OUTLOOK

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 160, 22 June 1935, Page 15

COMMISSIONER’S OUTLOOK

I have received the following letter from Dominion Headquarters. It was sent from Holland to the Australian H.Q., with a request that it be forwarded to New Zealand H.Q. They in turn have forwarded it to me, hoping that I can identity the Scout concerned. Here it is as it is written.

Elswoutgroep Padvindersgroep Ver. V. Jeugdwerk Blocmandaal N.V.P. Apl. 10th/35. “Dear Sirs, — “During the recent Jamboree, wo made acquaintance with a Scout of New Zealand by means of correspondence. We received his photo, and now will remain corresponding when he is back in his own group. But we don’t know his address! Therefore we ask you to send through the enclosed letter to the Scout who stands at the entrance of your sub-camp at the Jamboree, and who was so polite to that Dutch lady, to allow her to have his photo taken by her. He w’as at the entrance about at one hour P.M.. at first of January. We request you to trace who was there, and to send him our warmest thanks, (from his friends in Holland), to send him the enclosed photo and our address, with the request to write us something about his troop and himself, with his address. “We has other persons in India and Australia with which we are corresponding. We send another our monthly and publish in that monthly the letters we receive from our friends in foreign parts. We shall ask the same of the New Zealand Scout, when wo receive his address. “With our best thanks for your services, Scout Greetings.” (Hero follows a signature I cannot read). A.S.M. “ELSWOUTGROEP,” Bloemandaal.” 1 have the photo here, and thought that he might be a Hawke’s Bay Scout. Unfortunately I do not know his name, but some of you chaps who were there may. I will endeavour to let you see the photo and perhaps you can help our Dutch friends .The face is rather indistinct, but you may recognise the legs! (Legs are recognisable you know. lam sure you all know mine. Even Lady 8.P., at the Jamboree met me one day and said; “Ah! I thought it was you, I recognised the legs.” I told her that there was only one pair like mine at the Jamboree.) If we had our own Dominion Scout paper (as we should, and would if we could afford it, like other countries). I would public the photo. However, we must do our best. If any of you are corresponding with Scouts of other countries (the word foreigner is cut out of Scouting) and get interesting letters in return, send them along for publication, if you have no objection. We all want to learn what our brother Scouts in other countries are thinking. “LITTLE JOHN.”