NEW ZEALAND ROVERS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7103, 5 September 1949, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND ROVERS

RESUME OF TRAVELS AND EXPERIENCES TRAVELS THROUGH EUROPE TO WORLD MOOT Further news of Tuffy Burchell who went ~to the World Rover Moot held in Norway during August was contained in a news ietter which had been cyclostyled and circulated to the next-of-kin and to each Rover crew from which a member went to the Moot. Tuffy Burchell writes:— “On Friday, July 29th the contingent was on the train with other Empire contingents and part of the English party. A long and tiring train journey took them through Europe with many stops for customs examinations of passports at the borders. Ttiey went through Belgium, Germany, Denmark Sweden and into Norway. The boys saw terrific devastation in such cities as Cologne, Dusseldorf, Essen and Bremen. The countries were very flat, in Germany every available space was taken up with vegetable plots, fields of corn and there were signs of close rotational cropping. There were few cows in evidence and those that were observed were tethered. The German people did not happy and did not smile oi wave but just watched with an empty look, while the Swedish greeted them with smiles and waves.

The rolling and hilly countryside covered with trees gave Sweden an appearance close to that of home in New Zealand. Copenhagen, huge blocks of flats presented a pleasing aspect with boxes of flowers outside the windows. The journey through Europe took two and a-half days including three nights. It was one of lack of sleep, of queuing up for meals in the restaurant car, of checking across borders and of bag meals and bottles of milk. The discomforture was worthwhile to see a little of Europe. Life in Norway “The fourth World Rover Scout Moot was held against a forest of fir trees in a picturesque valley with steep, rocky mountains rising close alongside. Patches of snow lie along the tops of the Jotunheinmen mountains as they are known. Jotunheimen means land of giants and the mountains are rich in ancient folklore. Oslo, the capital is 250 miles away. Many houses in the valley are built of logs, some have concretetiled roofs while the older ones have moss-covered sod or wooden slate roofs. A small belfry on the roof of the house serves to call the workers in from the fields or to call the cows down from the slopes. The farmlets are small and life is hard but the folk are happy. The older women show the ruggedness and lined faces of hard work. Hay and crops are dried out on stakes or rails. The ground is sandy and full of stones and sprinklers are used to moisten the pastures. Water is brought down from the hills for that purpose in wooden conduits made from the hollow trunks of trees.

“Electric power is obtained from numerous small hydro stations in the hills. At a cafe in the nearby village, good meals are provided at a small cost but the language difficulties caused much sign language to be used with resultant amusement. “All the contingents were divided into patrols and situated in separate sub-camps, thereby forming an international group of ten patrols. Thirtyeight nations are represented by 2500 Rovers and a wonderful spirit of co-operation, friendship and understanding prevails, all are bound by the same scout laws and promises. At rfight beneath the trees many campfires cement the international goodwill and although the general language is pidgeon English all sing the same songs and give the same yells. “There are large numbers from Switzerland, the brown fur Jinnalh caps of Pakistan, the flowing green turbans of India, the white robes of Arabia and the large red berets of France. Brilliant coloured blankets denote Rovers from Mexico, blue and w’hite skull caps designate Swedish and grey forage caps edged with green are worn by the Norwegians. Each little patrol of ten has set out its own camp site, perhaps making a national gateway or laying out the name of their homeland in letters formed from moss and pinecones on the ground. There are flags and emblems and there are notices of welcome either carved or burnt out of wood. The Scots wear their kilts.

“Irregular tracks wander through the trees connecting up the patrols. The Scout shop is very popular not only as a spot for the purchase of souvenirs but as a meeting ground for exchanges. A high lashed tower of poles rises above the trees with a day lookout watching for fires. Down the only road proper are the flags of the various nations flying from high poles. The road is sandy and leads to the coast.

“At the opening ceramony of the Moot, Prince Olaf commended the great possibilities of the Scout movement towards peace and understanding between nations. It was only by going to such a gathering that Rovers could realise the significance of international moots and see men of different nationalities and creeds standing shoulder to shoulder and enjoying a mutual understanding of goodwill, of friendship and peace. “At the open air chapel surrounded by fir trees, Rovers from different nations could be seen following their prayers in their own language and a Norwegian choir in their colourful dress embroidered with fine designs with floral adornments. Rovers go down to the cafe in the village at night for coffee, a very homely room in a house with small tables. English Rovers sit talking with Swedish boys, two black boys from the Gold Coast enter with a Swiss boy, laughing and talking together in a form of broken i English. Some sit talking with the Norwegians or members of other nationalities and folk from the nearby farms also come in for some coffee and a chat. It is a crazy mix-up of nations but one has only to see it tb realise the understanding and friendship that exists. The New Zealand Contingent At an Empire gathering to meet Lord Rowallan, the New Zealandera greeted him with hakas and Max

Stewart presented him with a piu piu on behalf of Dominion Headquarters, which the Chief wore for a while. On the shortwave broadcast to the Empire. Max Stewart sent greetings to New Zealand and a team gave hakas. Les. Carrick awoke one morning to find his tent on fire and scrambled tut with slight burns to his hands and a hair singe. His tent is now half-size. With the windy and at times cold weather a number received colds, but otherwise the health was good. Food rations became rather short and Rovers had to fall back on a diet of brown rye bread. Three. New Zealanders assisted in a mountain rescue party while others stood by in case they were wanted. It was very noticeable that the Norwegians asked for Kiwis. 1 “After the moot, all have various plans to tour Europe, some are staying in Norway, some are going to a < climbing course in Switzerland and other are concentrating on either Holland, Belgium or France.”