SCOUTS RETURN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 47, 24 January 1939, Page 6

SCOUTS RETURN

SYDNEY JAMBOREE.

TRIBUTE TO CONDUCT. The Palmerston North party of Boy Scouts, who formed part of the southern contingent which visited the big international jamboree in Sydney, returned yesterday afternoon, having been away lor over three weeks. 1 lie party was in the charge of Commissioner L. G. Callis (Paifnerston North), while District Commissioner N. D. Stubbs (Palmerston North), who was treasurer and leave officer of the southern contingent, also arrived home with the local boys. “We had a really wonderful time,” said Mr Stubbs when discussing the trip with a “Standard” re|X>rter today. “The hospitality of the Australians left nothing to be desired.” Both trips across the Tasman Sea were made in good weather, and although the majority of the boys had not been to sea before they proved splendid sailors. From the time the contingent set foot on Australian soil until it left again the good hand oi fellowship was extended to the boys on all sides, Mr Stubbs said. The huge camp at Bradfield, with its thousands of tents, was a remarkable sight and the march past of 11,000 Scouts of all nations and colours was a spectacle which made an indelible impression.

The 600 hoys from New Zealand were divider! into troops, each troop bearing the name of a native tree. T he boys from Palmerston North, Levin, Dannevirke and Pahiatua made up the Totara Troop and both Mr Stubbs and Air Callis spoke very eulogisticallv of the conduct of these boys. “The 'lotara camp was one of the show places of the jamboree, and Lord Hampton, who was acting as deputy for the World Chief Scout (Lord Badon-Powell), visited the camp and personally congratulated the boys ” Mr Stubbs said. “C/ur lads were a credit, and one could not but feel proud to be associated with them.” FINE IMPRESSION CREATED. Both Mr Stubbs and Mr Callis said that the New Zealanders created a splendid impression. Their general deportment and their smart uniforms stood out pronv’nentlv always, and their behaviour in and out of camp won praise on all sides. “They were indeed the gentlemen sons of the gentlemen soldiers who left Now Zealand,” Air Stubbs said. The New Zealand section of the jamboree was decorated with Alaori designs. ami at the New Zealand demonstration the COO lads dressed up as Alaoris and gave haka.s, poi dances and songs, while a mock tribal battle was fought, to the delight of the crowd. Tt was amusing afterwards to see the hoys of other nations endeavouring to dance hakas. The Scouts of every nation intermingled and exchanged souvenirs and altogether a huge brotherhood was established. The weather for the jamboree was, on tile whole, excellent. Severe heat was experienced, the highest temperature at the camp being 120 degrees. The Scouts stood up to it very well and there was an entire absence of sickness among the Palmerston North boys. The toad was good and the treatment meted out to the hoys by headquarters was excellent. Many sightseeing trips and educational tours were arranged, and altogether the New Zealanders have returned home with vivid impressions.