ON TOUR TO LEARN.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1214, 24 August 1911, Page 6

ON TOUR TO LEARN.

"YOUNG AUSTRALIA." LEAGUE BOYS IN WELLINGTON. "For. educational purposes only" was the answer given by Mr. J. J. Syinon, who is in charge of the Young Australia League Boys., to a question as to the object of the visit of his 42 boys to America. . The party, consisting of 10 members all ■told, .arrived in Wellington from Sydney by the Jlocraki yesterday, and proceed to San Francisco by the Jlaitai to-morrow. For the last eighteen months Jlr. Symons has worked hard to attain his object, and committees were' formed in the various districts ■of AVest Australia to pick out suitable boys—boys who showed ability and diligence. Jfr. Symons told a Dominion representative thnt some of tho boys, whose ages range from 10 to 22 years, have been preparing for this tour for sixteen months. It is thought by the promoters of the league that travel is of more educational value than the study of books, oi at loa=t la a very Iniportan , part of education in its wide sense, and hence the present tour.

Before starting out each boy had to pay in ,£7O, but this, it should be understood, will not nie-et the expenses of the tour. In order to guard against a deficit the lads were formed into - a band and otherwise organised, and, at the various places visited,- entertainments are given. "It has b&en thought that we are out to make money," said Mr. Symons,'"but that is apt so. What we are (loins' is to endeavour to educate the bovs by letting them see what is actually taking place in various parts of the world. Take, for instance, a boy who is following tho engineering trade. -He gets books; on various subjects connected with his work, and studies, them. Ho also sees what is going on around him. This method of learning, we maintain, takes a loiis time. Bj taking this particular lad to America, and putting him amongst tho machines and other appli-ari'.-es connected with his trade (about which he has read but never seen) he will have a strong picture imprinted on. his mind, and will learn more in half an hotir's actual study that way than by reading for days. Seeing is ■ believing. ■ Some of' the boys went through tho "Bulletin" offices in Sydney the other day, and they can tell you all about it in detail now. The same, can be said in connection with many other places which w« have visited. Yes, I think that this tour will be of great educational value to the latls, and, in my opinion, it is a step in the right direction. Shortly after the Mooraki berthed yesterday, "the company marched to the Y M ft A., buildings, where they were welcomed by Mr. H.' N. Holmes. A luncheon was given thern by a number of Australians resident in Wellington, and speeches | of welcome were made, to which. Mr. Symons replied. During the. afternoon some of the lads visited tho Government Printing Office?:, and, later on. the Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister for Education, addressed them. AT THE TOWN HALL. Escorted by tho Wellington Garrison Band, and with pennons flying, the Young Australia League . boys .sailed forth from thf Tf.M.C.A. building last evoning, and inarched in procession, via Manners Street, to the Town Hall. There, under the direction of \\ e:>t s Pictures, Ltd., they nave a capital entertainment before a large and enthusiastic audience. Though tbe effort, was «omev.-hat disjointed, and lacking ta anything particularly characteristic of their country, tho boys gave evidence of a Rood deal of talent in several directions. The brass band is quite a good one, awl its selections were among the most welcome on. the programme, 'lho first item, took the form of a slcepim camp, in which the foldiers are awakened from sleep by the reveille, .-mn , , having yawned lazily, proceed to sweep "Dan Drowsy" from their brains by a vigorous pillow' fi<rht. After a eood deal of comical foolery, they are ordered to rehearse, and. in "this manner the prosTomnie is introduced. Master Allen Hart, a splendid boy soprano, soon made ' friends with . the aurticice, A quaint little person is Leslie O Meant, who mndo a hit in tho ballad entitled "The Shirt My Mother'Made'For Me, and "Ilrummer Boy." Horace Brown was amusing—even it' his Scotch is held under suspicion' of being Australian-Scotch-and that performer and- I red Styles made merrv as two strolling npsrraes. Leo Clean- sans; sweetly "In Iho Va.ley Where the Gum Trees Grow," and Victor Brown was encored for his rendering of the old son" f 'Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming" (with chorus). The baud played the inspiriting march, "New Colonial," and the selection "Idalia," and in both there wus the evidence of careful training and an admirable receptive faculty. rhe league's entertainment concluded with "Tho Song of Anstraiia," which hardly does the title justice. The second part of the programme consisted of a display of pictures by West s, Ltd These included a capital pictorial presentation of Mrs. Henry Wood's emotional novel "East Lynne." It is cue of the best "photo-plays' which have been shown since tho advent in Wellington of the kinematograph. The management announce that tho Young Australians will repeat their bright entertainment at the King s Theatre this evening, when new - items will be substituted for these given_ last evening. This in addition to the picture prograramo including the "East Lynne" picture. ■