BOY TRAVELLERS.

Northern Advocate, 30 January 1922, Page 2

BOY TRAVELLERS.

SEEING- AUSTRALIA

PARTY IN SYDNEY.

SYDNEY, Jam. IS,

The Melbourne express brought to Sydney ye.slcrday 220 boys frosn Western Australia, members of the Young Australia League, who r.ro visiting the different States.

Though they had experienced an uncomfortable journey from Albury, the boys presented a very spick find span nppe'trnnee when they detrained. The value of their cadet training was to be seen in the smartness with which they carried out their routine wiork and the ease with which those i;i charge mustered and moved the.ni about. It was explained that they were under isemiinilitary discipline, buL the officers took their mewls with the .boys so as to maintain n friendlv influence over thme.

The leading officials and the band were equipped in smart blue uniforms, with :t white covered staff cap aJid enamel badge. All the boys wore the league's badge in their (button Jioles. The ages of the visiting boys range from nine to 17 years. The majority of the youngsters are about 13 years of age. The cost of the trip to each ibov is about £IS/10/. This includes all expenses except pocket money. In railway fares alone the expenditure will be *£2300.

On arrival Mr J. J. Simons, M.L.A., of 1-Yrth, who is in charge of the party, expla'ned that they had had a most enjoyable trip except for fin unpleasant experience at Albury At this point an attempt was made to crowd tihe 220 hoys into space that was only adequate for 180. When the officers protested the railways officials threatened to start, without them. The train was stopped a considerable distance from the platform along which itho boys had to carry fill their kit. They finally left Alburv under the impression that they would obtain additional accommodation at Clucairn, but on arival there they were informed that there was no more «a< com aiodati.on available They had changed trains at I' 2 different points, l>ut this was fclie only ceeasion on which there had been any friction. Their reception at Moss Vnlc had been very n o-recable. They were met on arrival by the Mayor, and refreshments were served by a committee of ladies.

Mr Simons stated that the iboys in the party came from 7;> different points in Western Australia, and the object of their trip was to prove that the citizens of no one State wore ''.shareholders '' .in patriotism. All were for Australia. The funds required for the trip, he said, had been raiised on the instalment. (basis Membership in the league was. open rfco any "boy. Special trains took the party to the Royal Agricultural Showgrounds, where they will be accommodated during their stay in -Sydney. Among tho.ie who met the visitors ortheir arrival were Alderman Wan. Brooks, M.L.C., Sir Albert Gould (vicepresident of the Koyal Society of St. George), Colonel Timothy, WD. aiml Mr J. Tucker (the advance agent of the party). In the afternoon the Lord Mayor (Alderman W. I*. McElhono) gave a civic reception in the boys at the Town Hall. Alderman MrElbone expressed his pleasure ait meeting the iboys, and said that he hoped they would enjoy their stay in Sydney and in >»e\v South Wales I-Te thought that they were making a splendid um: of vheir holidays in getting to M moav the great land of which they \ver-> <'•< iz.-ns. " Australia," he said, '' i'"; en<l.s oil boys like yourselves, who wil! he the men of the future, to make her great."

The boys, at I;he will of Mr Simons gave their own sjieeial "rocket call" for the L'iji] "Mayor.

Folowiug the otiieial welconic, the ofliccis and boys were with light refreshments and were entertained at a short organ recital by the city organ is v. (ATv Ernest Trmnan).

To-day tihe party will visit the YaciiuHi Oil Company as plant anil see the harbour, as guests of the company. They "will embark un laulu-hes at Fort ilacquarie at 9 o'clock. In the afternoon they will visit Taronga Park Zoo. On Thursday morning ithey will visit Henderson's sweet factories, and Yiears' tweed anils, and im the ufternon they will be the quests of Sir Benjamin! Fuller at '' Dick "Whittington " and "Cinderella.'' On Friday they will spend the whole day on a trip to the Blue Mountains, as guests >of the State Government. Saturday morning will lie spent at the .M.useum, and in the afternoon La I'erouso and the land-ing-place of Captain Cook at lvurne.ll ivill be isited. There will be a elmreh

parade 0:1 Sunday morning, and :i visit to the Art Gallery in the afternoon. On Mo-ndav thev will depart in the evenm'ji, and they expect to l>c bfidv at Perth on the following Saturday morn-

PrLor to reaching Sydney, the party spent ti week in Adelaide, and a week i;:i Melbourne. Various side trips from these centres were made, and nvanv industrial plants were viM.ted.