SCOUTS ON WAY BACK HOME

Chronicle (Levin), 4 September 1947, Page 5

SCOUTS ON WAY BACK HOME

all have had a wonderful time LOXDON, Sept. 3. One hundred and ninety-two of 233 New Zealand Scouts who attended the World Jamboree at Moisson, France, are returning home on the Atlantis whieh sailed from Southampton yesterday. The remainder, ineluding the leader of the contingent, Sir Joseph Ward, will return on later ships during the next few weeks. After weeks of almost unbroken sunshine, both in Britain and France, the boys are all bronzed and fit.. The party has an exeeptionally clean bill of health and only two of the 233 are at present on the sick list. Throughout the- trip their studies have not been neglected but havoi been directed by three sehoolmasters attaehed to the party by the^ New Zealand Education Department. . Sir Joseph Ward who superintended the embarkation on the Atlantis, said that the Jamboree had been an unqualified suecess. Assistcd by the best possible weather and the kindness and hospitality of a legion . of British friends, the boys had made full use of their time and there were very few plaees of interest in the United Kingdom some of them had not visited. In France the activities of the Jamboree monopolised their energies. These had provided them all with invaluable opportunities for medting Scouts of other countries and furthering the international aspects of the movement. Highlights of the trip had been a reeeption at Buckingham Palace by their Majesties, visits paid to them at Gilwall Park by the Duke of Gloueester, the Chief Scout, Lord Rowallan and the High Commissioner, Mr. Jordan, and the visit to Moisson -of President Auriol, of France. At the conclusion of the Jamboree Sir Joseph Ward represented New Zealand at an international Boy Scout conference. It was decided by the conference that a world Rover moot should be held in Norway in 1948, and considerable atten'tion was given to plans for the development of senior scouting. This was the first international Scout conference since the death of Lord Baclen Powell, and among other things it was charged with the responsibility of entirely revising the Scout1 eonstitution. Sir Joheph Ward was elected a member of an executive of six which governs the affairs of world scouting. Barter reached considerable heights during the Jamboree and many of the boys wFo boarded the Atlantis carried in their packs .such diverse trophies as Ameriean cowboy hats and Indian gauntlets which- they had exehanged for New ' Zealand tikis and other mementos. As the Atlantis prepared to sail down Southampton Water, the boys were busy making friends with the 227 British migrants who are also travelling to New Zealand on the ship.