LETTER FROM CAMBRIDGE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 35, Issue 886, 27 July 1956, Page 22

LETTER FROM CAMBRIDGE

STUDENTS in England have a better school background than _ the average New ‘ Zealand student, and are presumed to be adult enough to look after themselves-so comments Dr. John Pocock in Letter trom Cambridge. In the Antipodes, he says, there is a tendency to feel more’ concern for students-in fact, one might say that in New Zealand it is a popular belief that it is the responsibility of the State and the university to make students pass; and if the students fail, it is thought that the university is at fault. Dr. Pocock, formerly Lecturer in History at Otago University, was recently appointed to a fellowship

at St. John’s, Cambridge, in this first talk mainly deals with his impressions of Cambridge so far as these contrast with the university scene in this country. He also briefly touches on the place of the university in a changing society, commenting that now, with the cold war turning into a war of technological competition, the need for

universities to expand their science faculties (possibly at the expense of the humanities) was becoming more and more of a problem. Cambridge, though not wanting to be revolutionised, he says, has nevertheless been undergoing revolution for a long time. In his capacity to keep in touch with the cultural, artistic and educational climate of present-day Britain, it is hoped that Dr. Pocock will be able to make the Letter from Cambridge a regular three-monthly feature. Dr. ‘Pocock (son of another wellknown broadcaster, Professor L., G.

Pocock, of Christchurch), is already well known to listeners from previous talks on history and on the theatre in New Zealand. On the latter subject he hopes soon to publish a book, written in collaboration with Bruce Mason, of Wellington. Letter from Cambridge is schéduled to be broadcast from YC stations as follows: 4YC, July 25, 10.0 p.m.; 3YC, July 31, 8.15 p.m.; 1YC, August 5, 8.5 p.m, ee PURER ee