Scout Makes Fast Trip To Attend Jamboree In Melbourne

Chronicle (Levin), 9 December 1948, Page 6

Scout Makes Fast Trip To Attend Jamboree In Melbourne

For spiit-second decisions and immediate preparedness. few could excel the record set yesterday by a young Levin scout. Yesterday afternoon, TroopLeader Ian Wenham, of Durham Street, Levin, had only one thought — that of helpmg his crieket team, the Horowhenua .College first eleven, hold a Scots College team to a draw in the annual cricket match at Wellington. Today he is in Auckland, ready to board the Trans-Tasman Airways' flying boat to Australia to attend the Pan-Pacific scout jamboree in Melbourne. • It came about in this way. Some time ago it was announced, because of the shortage'of shipping, that instead of the original 50 scouts selected to represent New Zealand at the jamboree only a token force could go. A'-'Palmers-' to'n North boy was nominated to represent the Manawatu County. Tnis was a great disappointment to the Levin scout committee and it fiegotiated for some time to see if it was possible, to provide air transport for the local scout. Aftsr much work and disappointment, word was received at 4.20 p.m. yesterday that a seat was available on the flying boat leaving Auckland tomorrow. Ian Wenham was then on the ericket field at Wellington. Hurried conferences resulted in the Field's express being met at Otaki, where he was told the news and rushed by car to Levin. His bags were packed and waiting. From Levin he was taken in a fast car to Palmerston North, where he was placed on the Limited express for Auckland The short notice provided some difficulties for the committee, particularly with regard to the required income tax clearance and, to a lesser degree, meeting the necessary trains. In regard to the former, the utmost co-operation was received from the department concerned, and the necessary te.egrams have been sent providing conflrmation of the clearance. "Ian has been a cub and scout for Seven years and has always been a keen participant in the activities of the movement. Local supporters will be pleased and pi-oud to know that they have one of their scouts at the jamboree," said the chairman of the scout committee, Mr. V. E. Hudson, today.