Gaining First-Hand Knowledge of Empire

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 588, 14 February 1929, Page 9

Gaining First-Hand Knowledge of Empire

SCHOOLBOYS ON TOUR ARRIVALS BY THE lONIC Forty-five young men. who some day may play a part in the affairs of the British Empire, arrived on the lonic to-day. They are a party of English public school boys who are to make an educational tour of the Dominion. A finer type of youth could not hay*» been chosen. Each has made himself a firm favourite with the rest of the passengers during the voyage, and glowing tributes were paid when the vessel reached Auckland. The members of the party were uniformly dresesd in grey flannel suits. This was more or less agreed upon as a uniform. Each boy had a grey suit and another of blue for the voyage. The party travelled second-class, Mr. J. Darling, a master of Charterhouse. is in charge of the party, and with him is Lieutenant Grenfell SmithDorrien, a son of General Sir 1L Smith-Dorrien, and Mr. M. Scott, who is just down from Oxford, and a musician of considerable merit. There are representatives from all the famous English public schools in tlio party. Four are Eton boys, nine arc from Charterhouse, one is from Harrow, and there are also boys from Stowe, Rugby, Christ’s Hospital. Merchiston Castle, Beaumont, Tonbridg . Repton. St. Edward’s School. Ley's (Cambridge), Haileybury, Almondburv Grammar School, Clifton. Worksop, ; Radley, Clayesmore, Lancing, Canford, | and Marlborough. “The voyage was made very happv for us by the boys,” said one of the saloon passengers this morning. “They are a fine type, and a good sporting lot. It did not matter what part of the ship a passenger came from—tho boys entertained them all—-even with their own fun. “Several plays were performed, including ’The Monkey s Paw,' and their own revue, ‘This Tour of Grace, a parody on the Noel Coward revue, was most amusing.” The members of the party composed and acted the revue, the music for which was done by Mr. M. Scott, whose ability, one of the passengers said, would make him a world-famous musician one day. On Sunday evening some of the boys performed paiL of “The Midsummer Nights Dream’ : for the entertainment of the passengers. . Mr. Darling returned the compliments of the passengers this morning. He said that everything possible had been done to make the voyage a pleasant and enjoyable one. He also paid a tribute to the Shaw, Savill Co. and the officers of the lonic. The boys will spend seven weeks frt New Zealand, and will return to England via Australia and the Suez Canal, Their visit is the outcome of the work of a committee formed some years ago by the Right Hon. L. S. Ainery, in order to make it possible for public school boys ueir last term to visit parts of the - iti .■ Ei-v* pire. This is the third teur. r ien was one to South Africa nd ar Ahev to Canada. The object of the torn to ■ ing about a closer mutual. d between New Zealand an England, and to form in Engli which is awake to the dil Is proud of the existence of the Brit-' isk EmpLe. AUCKLAND ARRANGEMENTS

There was no mistaking the English' public school boys when off the lonic at Prince morning. A band of young Englishmen, apparently in ex - cellent health and obviously in -l*: good spirits, cannot long * scape a Hen tion.

When the liner berthed, they v * . met by representatives of a comi .ittee set up to entertain their stay in New Zealand. Mr. D. Ardell, of the Dei Internal Affairs, met them on hen if of the Government, and there v also present Dr. E. I*. Neale, --o r tary of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Mr. K. H. Wilson, assistant secretary of the local committee, Mr. Norman Heath, representing old boys of English public schools, Mr. L. Duff, New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. E. O’Shea, registrar of the Auckland University College. In view of the luncheon to be teil - ered at 1 o’clock, no formal receptiou was given, the distribution of tho boys among residents who are billeting them during their stay taking up most of the time. A fleet of cars was in readiness, and as soon as the landing formalities were completed tho visitors were taken away by their guests.

The Auckland committee set up to make the necessary arrangements is under the chairmanship of Canon H. K. Archdall, headmaster of King’s College.