STUDENT SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 77, 26 December 1918, Page 2

STUDENT SOLDIERS

THE UNIVERSITY COURSE

CHANCELLOR AND MINISTERS On November 29 life Honour (lie Chief Justice (Sir liobert Stout), Chancellor of the University of New Zealand, wroto the following letter to the Minister of Education:—"Sir,—l have the honour to draw your attention to the position of those students of the New Zealand Uniit'rsity who joined the Expeditionary Force before completing; their course. In the circumstances 1 think it would be only fair to give somo preference to such students in their speedy return to their university work. If that were done they would be ably to enter their classes in March next without losing another academic year. I feel sure that sympathy of both you and your Department will be with the students, and that the Government will be only too anxious to help them to resume their studies." In reply, the-Minister of Education (the Hon. J. A. Hanan) wrote on December 20':—"I have to inform you that the question was considered by Cabinet anil referred to the Hon. Minister of Defence. .Tho Hon. Sir James Allen advises mo that he cannot see any good reason for "ranting special privileges to. university .students in Hie direction desired, and points out that provision lias been made for fifty- scholarships at universities in Great Britain for members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force." . In his reply to tho above, dated December 23, the Chancellor said: "The request I made was that preference might be given to these soldiers in the demobilisation that, is taking place, and you state that the Hon. the Defence Minister advises you as follows: 'That he cannot see. any'good reason for granting special privileges to university students in .the direction desired, and points out that provision has been made for fifty scholarships at universities in Great Britain for members of the Now Zealand Expeditionary 1-orce.' I am amazed at such, an excuse being tendered by the Defence Minister. The granting "of fifty or, a hundred scholarships will not meet what the students desire. They have broken their university course. They have a year or more to attend .the university college in order to complete that course. The grant of a university scholarship at. an English university will not help them. JYnv, if any, of the English universities will admit'them adeundem status. Further, even if they were admitted to the same position-that is, that attendance at our universities was tti' count. Tho programme of studies is quite different, and it would bo difficult for them to fit in an attendance at tho English University with the work they have already dono m the New Zealand University. Some of them arc law students, and they wish to finish their law course in New Zealand. Some of them arc teachers, and they wish lo finish their arts course .here. No doubt the scholarships will !>c of great advantage, to many soldiers. Those who have not started a university career, or who mav have obtained some degree in New. Zealand will be admitted adeundem gradum in English universities. I may also point out that if the services of these students are not necessary, and that they can be permitted to attend an English university, if (hey have obtained scholarships, why should not they be permitted to attend their mother and finish their course? But. the whole excuse is so inept and so absurd that I am amazed at such being put forward bv the Defence Department as a ground 'for refusing the small concession. asked."