The Daily News. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1903. NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 251, 21 November 1903, Page 2

The Daily News. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1903. NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS.

On Tuesday the National Scholarships Bill was introduced to Parliament by the Governor's message and the measure has been referred to the Education Committee. The Bill provides for thirty-one junior scholarships to be offered annually, divided among the various districts as follows : Auckland, 4 ; Taranaki, Wanganui, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Nelson, Grey, Westland, South Canterbury, and Otago, 3 each ; Wellington, North Canterbury, and Otago, 3 each. These scholarships will be awarded on the results of an examination in the subjects prescribed for the fifth standard. Thi-se

examinations are to be open to any persons of either sex not over fourteen years of age, and who have been under regular instruction at a public school in New Zealand for the previous six months. In each education district at least one scholarship will be awarded to one of the candidates from the schools having not more than forty children in average yearly attendance, if there be a qualilied candidate from such schools, and if threw or more junior scholarships are oftv;cd in a district, then at least one scholarship shall be awarded to the schools having l more than 40 but not more than 200 in average yearly attendance. In no case shall more than one scholarship be awarded in any year to the candidates from any one school. No scholarship shall be awarded to a pupil whose parents are earning more than £2OO a year. The holder of a junior scholarship will receive in addition to any tuition fees payable at a .secondary school, £lB a year. The scholarships will be held for three years, awl may, with the approval of the Minister, bo extended for one year longer, but will be forfeited if the holder does not pass the prescribed examination at the end of two years. With regard to senior scholarships, the Bill provides that four shall be awarded ■annually in each university district on the result of the junior scholarship examination of the University, or such other examination as the Minister may prescribe. Candidates may be persons of either sex who are resident in the district, are under 19. years of age, and have been holders of Junior National Scholarships for not less than three years. The term of the scholarship will be three years, and the amount will be £2O, in addition to tuition fees. No one can hold a scholarship unless within three months after its acquisitionl he has been matriculated, uind has entered the college of his district, nor unless he has attended regularly the course of studies and lectures provided by the college, ami has made progress satisfactory to the Professorial Board. A scholarship will become vacant by failure on the part of the holder lo pass each year in at least two subjects of the annual examination of the college, unless such failure was occasioned by illness or other sullieient cause. All scholarship holders must at the end of the second year after matriculation pass in one section of the examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts or liachelor of Jvnws, or for the ordinary degree of Bachelor of Science. Scholarship holders may, however, by permission of the Chancellor, enter upon a course of study in medicine, engineering, mining, agriculture', or veterinary science, or similar branch of applied science. The senior scholarship will not be tenable with any other scholarship if the value of tho combined emoluments exceeds £MU a year. Where the holder of a scholarship resides away from homo he will, receive mi additional £BO a year.

THE DAIRY COMMISSIONERSHIP. A Press Association cable in our columns to-day notifies the resignation from the dairy staff of Mr McGowan. Since the resignation of Mr Kinsella Mr McGowan has been filling the position of acting-Dairy Commissioner, and 'during his term of olllce has displayed that ability and tact which the dairymen of the colony eonhdently expectod from him. By both experts and dairy . farmers Mr McGowan was held in high esteem and it was generally conceded that he was the smartest man in the service. It seems a great pity that the Government could not have wronged to retain his services and we believe thai if proper inducement had been offered he would have accepted the position of Commissioner. Our Government, however, appears to think tliat if a (tood man is wanted to fill an important position we must go outside the colony to find. one. This is a mistake that wo hope before long will be recognised. We do not wish to discredit the newly imported Commissioner, but there are men in the colony—conspicuously Mr McGowan —who are well able to fill the position. The men we have here arc learnt by long experience the condutions peculiar to the dairying in the colony, xmd a new man coming in has to learn all this, '"before he can practically apply his knowledge. The 'dairy stafi'i can ill alford to lose another good man and Mr McGowan's resignation is a matter for sincere regret.