Selection Of Field Service Students

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30980, 9 February 1966, Page 12

Selection Of Field Service Students

Sir, —Once again the time has come about for the exchange of Field Service students between the United States and New Zealand. I know that Maori students go to America in this exchange, but I am extremely interested to know why one never sees any American Negroes amongst those who arrive here from that country. Is it the fault of our people? If it is through the lack of sponsors, surely it is an issue that the Maori people could discuss with our Cabinet Ministers. — Yours, etc.. RIKI ERICHI. January 26, 1966. | [The national secretary of ithe American Field Service l (Mrs A. F. Robb) replies: ■ “The lack of American Negro students coming to this country under the American Field Service international scholarprogramme has not been due to lack of sponsors in this . country. Just as Maori students go from this country to the United. States under this scheme, American Negroes also take part in the proeramme. Whereas the New Zealand student may apply to so only to the United States, the American applicant may apply to go to school in any one of approximately 22 countries. That we have not had an American Negro student Jin the programme in New Zealand has been due mainly to the lack of applicants. American students may apply for any of three programmes and the one which brings students to New Zealand is the school programme. Southern Hemisphere, and there are 14 other countries participating in this division. Unfortunately

with so few Negro students applying for this division of the programme and so many other countries involved, our chances of having a Negro student are not high. There is a similar situation with the qualified Maori student. We would like to see more Maori students taking part in the programme, just as we would be happy to see an American Negro come to this country.”]