Fellowship Provides Opportunities For N.Z. And American Students

Chronicle (Levin), 23 June 1949, Page 4

Fellowship Provides Opportunities For N.Z. And American Students

In. the complex social and lived today there were few a national basis which did not m bad, to the world-wide social, life. These were the comments Relations Officer of the Ameri an outline of the Fulbright Fe gave to a tea meeting of the J merce this week. The fellowship provides for exchanges of students, teachers and research scholars between the United States and New Zealand, enab'ing them to pursue their work in schools and , institutions of higher learning. In August, 1946, the U.S. Congress had passed an amendment, introduced by Senator Fulbright, to the Surplus Property Act, sai'd Dr. Dennis. This authorised a portion of the credits hel'd overseas by the United 'States from wartime LendLease aid to be used for: Firstly, financing studies, research, ' instruction and other e'ducational activities for American citizens in schools and institutions of higher learning in countries in which such credits were held; and, secondly, furnishing transportation for citizens of the participating country New Zealanders and five Americans. schools an'd institutions. Use Of Funds. It also provided that on agreement between the United States on the one hand and a country where such credits were held on the other a foundation would be set up to administer the funds for this purpose. Such an agreement had been signed between the New Zealand and United States Governments, added the speaker, and the foundation was under the direction of a board of directors consisting of five New Zealanders and five American. • It would be recailed, co'ntinued Dr. Dennis, that the, Lend-Lease settlements specified that because of the postwar dcfllar shortage, credits due to the United States could not be converted into American currency,- For that reason the foundation's assets, amounting to £9,270,380, was exclusively in New Zealand currency. Any benefits had to be those which could be purchased in New Zealand pounds. "This. stipulation prevents the programme from being as nearly reciprocal as the foundation would hke . it to be, because although it can transport an American to'and maintain him in New Zealand on pounds, it is able to provide roundtrip transportation only between New Zealand and the United States for New Zealand citizens. It is not able to provide his or her maintenance in the United States because the 'foundation's funds may not be converted to dollars. "In spite of this stipulation," de7

economic pattern in -which we ctivities operated on an interake some contribution, good or political and economic webb of of Dr. Earl A. Dennis, Public can Embassy, in the course of :lAowship programme whieh he Levin Junior Chamber of Comclared the speaker, "the foundation has made a rather successful effqrt to obtain dollar support for the New Zealand citizens in the United States from educational institutions, philanthropic foundations and private organisations in the form of fellowships, scholarships and grants. This type • of dollar support, coupled with foundation grants covering round-trip transportation between his country and the United States, may make it possible for some 20 New -Zealand students, teachers and research scholars to spend from six to nine months in a United States school or university under the foundation's 1949 programme, and an equal number of " Americans to spend a comparable period in New Zealand." The total assets of the foundation would be spent over a period of 20 years, advised Dr. Dennis. It involved an expenditure of £35,447 annually. Potentialities Incalculable. "I have on numerous occasions speculated as to what in the next 20 years this programme of the exchange of ideas, technical knowledge, skills and techniques, as well as exchange of political, economic and social* viewpoints betjveen our two countries will bring forth," said Dr. ' Dennis. "The potentialities are incalculable. New Zealanders have much to take to the United States which can be of value to both countries. It is likewise believed- that Americans coming to New Zealand will contribute something which will be of advantage to their own country and to New Zealand." He did not wish to give the impression that the United States was the only country putting energy and money into this type of activity, added Dr. Dennis. Less than three months * ago the New Zealand Government, through the National Commission for Unesco, had announced a grant of" £15,000 to be spent over the next five years to enable well qualified ..young people from war devastated countries to study and train in the Do-* minion's institutions. The British Government had likewise been alert to the value of sharing its technical and industrial skills with less developed areas of the world. The speaker answered a number of questions at the conclusion of hi§ talk and was accorded a hearty votp of thanks.