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I.N hll'EltlO. Once more in our columns Mr. P. A. Vaile returns to the charge, ami reiterates his enthusiast ie belief in the value of that Imperial Scholarship scheme which he first propounded in the columns of the Manchester Guardian. Now, as then, we should like to back his scheme with our appreciation of its very great possibilities. There ale, as we have said, points of possible disagreement In the details somewhat shadowy as these are as yet—of Mr. Vaile's plan, and we have commented on the difficulties which we see in the carrying-out of these large ideas. Hut we do believe that the Scheme is feasible, we do believe that it has the germ id' a true and wide Imperialism, and we cer tailily hope that a founder or founders pious enough to lend a name and money to the scheme will be discovered. Of course, there is now another Imperial Scholarship scheme in the field. Hut it differs essentially from this scheme. It is more academic and. in a sense, less Imperial. When Lord Rosebery spoke of sending our legislators round the Empire to learn something of it, he really indorsed the principle that underlies Mr. Vaile's ideas, ami he spoke very well and truly. Some such plan is certainly worth a trial if we mean to make an end id' baffling and hampering ignorance. It would be the complement of the labours of the Press Conference. Ami the cost should not be prohibitive. Are there not several millionaires at large in the Empire? Di:ah Mk. Vaii.e,— ' Wellington. 21st May. 1908. 1 am duly in receipt of your letter of the 14th January, in which you bring under my notice your scheme regarding Imperial Scholarships, and forwarding a copy of the Manchester Guardian and also a copy id' the London Standard containing articles in respect to your proposal. I may Say that I have read with very much interest the correspondence On the subject which you were so kind as to send to me. and can quite understand thai the scheme would tit in very well with the Rhodes Scholarship movement. I shall keep your communication before me. and have to thank you for your kindness in writing to me as you have done in the matter. Fours, iVc P. A. Vaile. Esq., the Press Club. .1. G. Ward. (i and 7 Win,' Office Court. Fleet SI reel. London. E.C. Tin' Press Club. <> and 7 Wine Office Court, Deab Sm Joseph Ward, Licet Street, I don. 8.C., 11th January, 1909. I send you a Manchester Guardian with my Imperial Scholarship article in it. also Evening Standard with a leader dealing with it. Since then, as you will probably have seen by the papers, I have had an interesting interview with Lord Milner. and now the matter is going before the Prince of Wales and perhaps the King. Lord Milner reckons my scheme would run hand in hand with llhodes's idea, and he assured me that he would be glad to work il and assist me in developing it. Before this reaches you we may have offered the first scholarship--for things are moving here. I have suggested that possibly some of the colonies would idler a scholarship or a series of scholarships. If the idea commends itself to you, might not New Zealand be the first dependency of England to put into practice this great iinperialising influence.' Please do not think lam trying to urge this. As 1 told Lord Milner. this thing must lie good enough to carry itself along. It could be done by cable if desired. There is enough in the article to show the lines of the scheme ; and I should semi the first scholar to New Zealand to study her legislation and life. Will you think of il. and pardon my troubling you.' but if it '.rocs it would never Ih> forgotten; if it doesn't il would. fours, ,Ye.. Sir Joseph Ward. X.C.M.C.. PreiiiierofNewZealai.il. P. A. Vaii.e. Approximate Coat o Paper.— Preparation, not Riven; printing (1,400 copies), Si 11b.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o9.

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