BOY SCOOTS' JAMBOREE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18342, 7 March 1923, Page 10

BOY SCOOTS' JAMBOREE.

EMPIRE EXHIBITION VISIT.

PATRO]

FROM DOMINION.

SIR R. BADEN POWELL'S PROPOSAL

[BY TELEGRAPH.OWN

CHRISTCnURCH. Tuesday.

If fortune is kind and money available, a party of New Zealand Boy Scouts may find themselves visitors" at the Empire Exhibition to be held at Wembley Park, London, next year. Sir Robert Baden Powell has issued a circular letter relating to this matter which has been received by the Governor-General, who forwarded it to the Dominion Executive of the Boy Scouts' Association. The letter states:—" It has been suggested to me as Chief Scout that a really practical step in consolidation of the right spirit between the nations of the British Commonwealth might be taken at the forthcoming Empire Exhibition by bringing over contingents of Boy Scouts from all oversea Dominions, colonies and protectorates. The Boy Scouts' " jamboree "in 1920 was originally planned merely for the Boy Scouts of the United Kingdom, but Oversea States and foreign countries desired to send cchtingents and automatically it developed into a most successful international meeting. The results have been remarkable in producing a new and widespread spirit of brotherhood and mutual goodwill. With this experience to go upon we could make a big thing of an Empire "jamboree"' as suggested, such an would have far-reaching effects in the future. The main questions would be those of finance and housing. The Boy Scouts' Association,* unfortunately, does not command funds sufficient to offer general hospitality, and it would naturally fall to the Dominions concerned to include expenses of travel to and from the United Kingdom, and maintenance and camp equipment also, for their respective contingents in any sums they may allocate for this purpose. On our own part we should provide, so far as possible, camping sites in or near the exhibition grounds and give a big scout show in the stadium of the exhibition, which is available for us for a fortnight in August, 1924. In addition we would do all in our power to show our visitors as much as wo can of England. We would do our best to arrange camps in the neighbourhood of interesting and historical centres. Personally, I feel that a unique opportunity is thus open for promoting in a practical way the education and the British spirit of these future citizens of the Empire." " The trouble, of course," said the chairman, Brigadier-General Andrew, when the letter was considered by the Bov Scouts' Association, "is the financial obligation involved." He thought fiat two patrols of six boys each, with patrol leaders and an officer in command, should be sent. The boys with the best service records should be sent. If it were possible to make arrangements for the boys* passages home and back again it was likely that a fund could be raised for the maintenance of the boys, which would be about £25 per head. It was decided to reply to the GovernorGeneral that the executive was in sympathy with the proposal, and it was further decided that a deputation should wait on the Prime Minister relative to obtaining what assistance he could give in the despatch of the patrols as requested.