STUDENTS FROM ASIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 74, 7 January 1949, Page 6

STUDENTS FROM ASIA

(By Airmail) CANBERRA. The Australian Commonwealth Government is granting university scholarships to students from South-East Asia as part of its plan to establish better relations with northern neighbours. Universities in need of financial assistance -will receive aid from the Government, but a condition will ne that universities will be required to provide accomodation for about 200 students from South-East Asia. The Minister for Post-war Reconstruction (Mr J. J. Dedman) is making a survery of university finances. The decision to award scholarships worth £60,000 —tenable at universities, technical colleges, agricultural schools and teachers’ training colleges —was made last- May, on the eve of the despatch of a good will mission to South-East Asia. On his return to Australia, the leader of the mission (Mr W. McMahon Ball) said that those countries were looking to Australia for advice and help in technology, science and public administration. Commonwealth Ministers hope that the scholarships will go to the type of students from whom South-East Asian countries will draw their future administrators. Ministers have expressed the opinion that the expenses involved will be more than repaid by the expected improvement .in understanding and good will. Some stated that Indians and others who have come to Australia violently prejudiced against the socalled White Australia policy have gone home with less hostile views.— Reuter.