WORK FOR RHODES SCHOLARS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 July 1930, Page 7

WORK FOR RHODES SCHOLARS

FAILURE TO RETURN TO NEW ZEALAND.

AUCKLAND, July 3

Rhodes scholars did not all return to New Zealand because there was not the opportunity for them, stated Mr F. A. Taylor, a Rhodes Travelling Fellow, who is touring Canada, America., New Zealand and Australia to discover the conditions which obtain for the Rhodes scholars who come from those countries. Mr Taylor is an old boy of the Auckland Grammar School, and he took his Mastership of Arts at the Uniersity of New Zealand. He took the same degree at Christ Church, Oxford where at present he is a student and and tutor. Mr Taylor believes that a finst-haiid knowledge of conditions in the dominions will be of great value in dealing with the students who go from the dominions to Oxford. He is travelling under the auspices of the Rhodes Trust which sends out two Fellows from Oxford yearly.

“Soon,” said Mr Taylor, “there will be a body of men at the University who can sympathise with the Empire students because they Understand the life in the olaces from which the students come.”

Despite all the modern improvements in transport and communication, Mr Taylor continued, referring to the nonreturn of New Zealand Rhodes scholars. New Zealand was comparatively 'solnted. “Scholars go from the fringe of affairs to the very heart when they leave New Zealand for England,” lie said, “They come in contact with another world, with other countries, with different thoughts and with others whose vision is wider than theirs. For the term for which they study at Oxford they make this -their world. They identify themselves with it, and when they have finished their studies they are loth to leave it.” Moreover, New Zealand did not offer the opportunity commensurate with their experience or with their ability. The Dominion was young, and its development was not advanced enough to he able to offer positions with a .scope comparable to those offered by the older dominions. If the Rhodes scholar saw the possibility of taking a suitable position abroad he took it.

It was not, however, a matter of reproach to' New Zealand, but rather one worthy of pride that she could produce men capable of filling responsible posts abroad. “The late Mr J. W. Yfibbs, formerly headmaster of the Auckland Grammar school and a leader of educational thought in the dominion, always maintained,” averred Mr Taylor “that it was within the spirit of the. will of Rhodes that service might be given in any part of the Empire and not only in the particular portion ot it from which the scholar came.” With the advance of New Zealand which age alone could give, Mr Taylor considered that opportunities would arise which would be suitable to Rhodes scholars. At present not only were suitable posts lacking, but lie also ' new of ope case where a Rhodes scholar WflS without any position. On the other hand, Mr Taylor said that Canada, which he had visited, was “the land of opportunity.” Rhodes scholars returned there. A large num 'w were in the Universities in tlu capacity *of professors and lecturers, were in the business world, hut Hie majority were in ..an educational sphere. Canada, he considered, was the most, prosperous of the dominions, and the opportunities were proportionately greater,

America, Mr Taylor soul, was a ''novel experience.” Two scholars were sent from each State in three years, amj the scholars were on the same basis as those from the British Empire. Thus there were more American Rhodes scholars than all others. “In the United States they are distributed through every section of the life and America realises their value. One is an ambassador, some are university presidents, a great number are lecturers. a few are great lawyers, many hold high positions in the business world; and they are recognised as a great influence in American life. America, with her millions of money, is well able to. provide amnio opportunity, ancl she 'ms chosen her Rhodes scholars well.”