SCOUT JAMBOREE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23231, 28 December 1938, Page 11

SCOUT JAMBOREE

WELLINGTON PAETY FAREWELL BY MINISTER " j ' " \ LADS SAIL ON AWATEA [BY TEL^pBAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Tuesday The contingent of Boy Scouts who left liv the Awatea this evening for the Sydney jamboree paraded at the stops of Parliament Buildings this afternoon. They were farewelled on behalf of the Government and the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, bv the Post-master-General, the Hon. F. Jones. The Dominion Chief Scout, Mr. H. Christie, of Wanganui, in introducing the Minister, said there was some significance in being tendered a farewell on behalf of the Government, for scouts claimed that they took an important part in the control of the affairs of the world—or that they were going to do so. "The Boy Scout movement is a great peace movement, in spite of what its enemies say," said Mr. Christie. '"There are approximately 600 of us going from New Zealhnd, and Ave will be the largest oversea contingent in Australia for this jamboree. AVe are going to meet the boys of 13 other countribs, and friendships will be formed, and so a great objective that we have will come nearer." "This jamboree will afford you a wonderful opportunity of mingling with scouts from other countries," replied Mr. Jones. "Although it might not appear so to you, there is a great responsibility on each and every one of you, to play the game and promote that goodwill so essential in these times to the promotion of goodwill among the peoples of the different countries. What the statesmen of the various countries have failed in, you may succeed in—in bringing about peace among the nations." ' Mr. vJonss referred to the international j-amboree to be held in New Zealand in December and January, 1939 and 1940, and said the friendships which the New Zealand boys made in Australia would be renewed at the New Zealand jamboree. The leailer of the contingent, Scout Commissioner J. 11. Middletou, of Wellington, in thanking, Mr. Joues for the farewell, said it was not the first evidence of the Government's interest in the trip, for they had received the utmost Assistance from every Government departmcnt*they had approached.

ASSEMBLY IN SYDNEY " CAMP LIKE A TOWN TOTAL OF 10,000 BOYS ELABORATE PREPARATIONS [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY. Dec. 22 A year ago at Bradfield, on the North Shore, an area of 500 acres of bush and undergrowth was studded with stones. To-day the bush, the undergrowth and the stones have gone, and on December 29 the site will be a town with a population of 10.000 Boy Scouts from ]6 countries. They will live there for 12 days. By January 10 the town will be no more. The Australian and New Zealand Scout Jamboree will be the result of 18 months' organisation. The World Chief Scout, Lord Baden-Powell, will be represented by Lord Hampton, Chief Scout Commissioner, Great Britain, who will arrive in Sydney on December 28. An enormous amount of work has been cheerfully undertaken by scouts and officials. About 12 months ago the site was selected and since then parties of enthusiastic scouts have spent their week-ends felling trees, uprooting scrub, carrying stone and burning-ofF. The town grew up behind them. Its centre is a smooth green arena 440 ft. in diameter. Round it stand buildings of all sizes, bridges, gateways, towers, camping grounds and car parks. More than 100 tons of tent poles and many tons of larger timber for the erection of ornamental and symbolic gateways await the participating scouts. The camp will .have its own water service, telephone exchange and hospital. Twenty-six sets of wash buildings, fitted with more than 300 showers, are ready; and a telephone service of 35 lines, connecting all parts of the camp, has been installed. A camp hospital to accommodate 60 patients, run by Girl Guides and medical officers, will cope with accidents and sickness. The largest contingent of visiting scouts is that from New Zealand. Seven Melanesian scouts from the Loyalty Islands, who have never before left the tiny Pacific island on which they were born, arrived with a party of 39 French scouts from Noumea. All of the seven Melanesians were bare-footed and they wore sarongs instead of trousers. Several other oversea representatives are already in Sydney. Interpreters will be' at the service of the foreign visitors, and notices in six languages will adorn the walls of the Jamboree post office. Three grandstands have been built round the arena, and a parking space for 4000 cars has been set aside.