SCOUT JAMBOREE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 8, 21 March 1947, Page 5

SCOUT JAMBOREE

FIVE DISTRICT NOMINEES LAST MINUTE RE-SELECTION Owing to a last-minute rise in the cost per head of sending representatives overseas to France to participate in the first World Scout Jamboree since World War 11. it was deemed necessary at a special meeting of Scout representatives last Tuesday to limit the district-spohsored nominees to five, instead of the oi’iginal ten. The meeting was convened by the 'County Commissioner in view of the short notice given by Headquarters in which to decide, and in order to afford the whole county (Waihi, Tauranga, Katikati, Thornton, Edgecumbe, Awakeri, Otakiri, Whakatane, Waiotahi and Opotiki) to agree upon a common policy of action.

An Opportunity Whakatane had originally nominated ten boys and two Scouters (the latter defraying their own costs). It was the common objective of all group committees to raise the required sum announced of £l5O per head. To this end all arrangements had been more or less completed, and it was considered a practical ■certainty that all money would be forthcoming by June when the contingent was due to leave New Zealand.

All plans were upset upon receipt of the latest and final circular from Headquarters last Friday, announcing that the contingent would be leaving on May 3, a month earlier, and the cost per head would be £250 plus cost of special uniform requisites. Wednesday (March 1,9) was given as the final day for clinching existing under the new conditions.

Nominations

The County Commissioner expressed the disappointment and concern of all the Scouting Community at the newest turn of events, which he said called for a prompt decision with regard to the boys who had been nominated from the district and who had already forwarded their £SO deposit. The alternatives were all difficult as he saw them. Either they could send ■all ten, boys, and institute an intensive campaign for the raising of something, like £IBOO in the six weeks still at their disposal; or else

withdraw all the nominations and ' disperse the money raised equally over the district, or again they could cut the number down so that the effort came somewhere within the scope of the finances already in sight. After considerable discussion it was decided to send one boy from each of the five troops participating, and to ask the two Commissioners present to make the selection. Both officers declared their unwillingness to act in this capacity, but added that if it was the wish of the majority as a way out of the difficulty, they would carry it out. The boys, who were there by spec-

ial invitation in order that they

could hear the full case, agreed to decide the matter by lot with the Commissioners supervising the proceedings. The result was as under:— Thornton: Harry Newton. Edgecumbe: Colin Vickery. Otakiri: James Steenson. Awakeri: Ivan Cooper. Whakatane: Graeme Stewart. Those eliminated and who were addressed by the Commissioner urging them to take their disappointment in true scouting manner, were as follows: Gordon Scott, John Mexted, Walter Reynolds, Roy Ranby and Eric Dockray. Ways and means of raising ap-

proximately £l3O per boy by the last week in April were discussed and it was decided that each com-

mittee make its own individual effort and that a temporary ‘Jamboree Committee’ be formed of delegates from each group, to meet at intervals and to ensure that the fund campaign is proceeding reasonably successfully. Apart from the district nominees already named the following who are shouldering the entire costs

themselves have also had their

names forwarded to Wellington for inclusion: S.M. T. Howell (Awakeri), A.S.M. Jack Adams (Thornton), and Patrol Leader E. Dockray (Whakatane). The contingent will be away approximately six months (instead of the' three months originally scheduled), and according to the circular from Dominion Headquarters, the £250 covers return fare to New Zealand from England, Jamboree charge, return fare to France, living expenses and tours in England, and possibly in France. It covers also some eight weeks before the Jamboree an four weeks after whilst an Europe.