KITCHENER SCHOLARSHIPS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2944, 2 December 1916, Page 9

KITCHENER SCHOLARSHIPS

NAVAL CADETSHIP PROPOSAL CATHOLIC FEDERATION PROTESTS About two mouths ago it was announced that the Hon. Colonel Heatpn ■Rhodes, MP., had given the sum of £1000 as tho nucleus of a fund to provido scholarships for tho children'sof fallen soldiers of tho New Zealand Arniy. A week or so after that announcement was made.'tho executive of tho Now Zealand Catholic Federation addressed a circular letter to tho mombors of tho National Government urging that if scholarships wero won by tho children of fallen Catholic soldiers the successful candidates should bo entitled to take them at Catholic secondary schools. The replies,of some of the Ministers have already been published, but it ■ would appear tiiat tho Kitchener Scholarship schemo has now assumed a definite shape. Writing to tho secretary of the federation under dato November 25, the Director of Education CDr. W. J. Auderson) says: "Your letter of September 18 ro Kitchener Memorial Scholarships to members of tho National Government has been reforto this Department, and a reply has been delayed till it was ascertained what would most probably bo tho form of tlio scholarships. If tho necessary arrangements can ho mado tho present intention is to establish naval scholarships tenable only at tho Royal Naval Colleges in England or at tho Australian Naval College, Jarvis Bay. The question raised in your lottor as to whether the scholarships shall he tenable at private schools must thoroforo necessarily bo answered in tho negative. The kind of instruction required for a naval cadet could not bo obtained at any secondary school in New Zealand." 'When tho schemo was first propounded, tho Council of Education made certain "* rccomondatious to tho_ Minister, including tho fol"That the standard of examination be not less than that of tho matriculation examination, and that cadets up. to the ago. of nineteen years bo qualified to compote for such scholarships if otherwise qualified to enter a naval college" Replying to Dr. Anderson's lottor tho federation, in a circular letter to tho members of tho National Government and Colonel Heaton Rhodes, says:--• "When Colonel Heaton Rhodes mado public his generous gift, amounting to. £1000, it was distinctly stated that it was to be the nucleus of a fund to provide, scholarships for tho children or fallen soldiers of the New Zealand Army—a most laudable onterpnse. I Now -wo learn that these scholarships are to be awarded only to those who 'can pass an examination equal to the matriculation examination. Suroly tho proposed schemo must carry its condemnation in that proposal alone. What-chance has tho son of tho widow of a "fallen private—D.S.O., D.C.M., or V.C. though he may be-rto pass nm.t-

rieulation and qualify oven, to that 6stont for a position in tho naval college? Tho ohancesTaro that tho 6on of such a, fallen, soldier would liaro'to go out into the world as soon as ho had passed the Fourth Standard, and cam, hardly enough, his own living, wMlo tho son. of a, fallen major or lieutenantcolonel or brigadier-general oven was abloto go through college, matriculate at nineteen, becomo a naval cadet, rise to position, and afterwards command tho sons of the other soldiers who had fallen by his father's side hut who had not had tho same advantages in their earlier years. The federation submits that,'the proposed schemo is absolutely and glaringly undemocratic, that it will tond to discriminate between the children of the rich and poor fallen soldiers, and that it will help materially to develop that difference between class and class that is already hearing sucTi bitter ', fruit in various and far-spread directions.' 1 , ;