SCOUT JAMBOREE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 43, 30 October 1946, Page 5

SCOUT JAMBOREE

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED

REQUEST TO COUNCIL

At its last meeting, the/Whakatane County CounniiTreceived a letter from the Whakatane Boy Scouts Association advising that a World Scout Jamboree was to be held in France next August, and that the opportunity existed to send at least three boys from the Whakatane district, at an overall cost of £2OO (N.Z.) each.

The boys, the letter continued, would be carefully selected, without bias as to the financial position of the parents, and consequently the Association had to be prepared to find a very large proportion of the cost. The cash, had to be in sight by the end of November, and any financial assistance the Council could invest in the youth of the district would be appreciated. The Chairman (Mr J. L. Burnett) added that the Association was endeavouring to find the money itself by various means, but that it was hoped that the local bodies would also contribute. Cr Burt indicated that whilst he was not against the proposition, he wished there were some other means to raise the money. It was too much like spending the ratepayers' money on things other than that for which it was intended*

Cr Hunter thought that with the world in the state it was, he certainly wouldn't be in agreement with any boy of his going as far away as France. Cr Luxton strongly supported the request. The Scout movement, he said, was an excellent one, and if lads from this district were presented with the opportunity of seeing the world at their present age, it would be an invaluable experience. Those who later settled in the district would, by reason of their trip, be an asset to the community. There was certainly something to be said against spending the ratepayers' money, but. at the same time, the movement was worthy of all the support the Council could give. There would be another meeting before the end of November when probably some idea of the amount needed would be to hand. The Council decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Finance Committee. .