A RHODES SCHOLAR

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 40, 16 February 1920, Page 9

A RHODES SCHOLAR

VISITOR FROM INDIA. TRADE WITH NEW ZEALAND. IMPRESSIONS OF OXFORD. (By Teleprsph.—Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHL'RCH, this day. New Zealand Rhodes scholar for 1908, Mr. S. X. Ziman, M.Sc. (X.Z.), B.A. (OKon.). was in Christchurch to-day. He holds an important position in the Indian Civil Service, and is at present on .furlough, ile was an Auckland, boy, and until now has not visited New Zealand since he left to enter Oxford. In an interview with a "Sun" reporter Jlr. Ziman spoke interestingly of Oxford experiences, but as a Government official he was debarred from discussing Indian affair? openly. After nine years' experience of thnt country he stressed the fact that opportunity offers for far closer intercourse between New Zealand and India than at present exists. New Zealflnders. in Mr. Ziman's opinion, have colossal ignorance of India and Indian doings, and India is equally in darkness regarding this Dominion. There are openings for reciprocal trading relations, and when Mr. Ziman returns to India he intends to see what steps can be taken to remedy the existing state of affairs. There is now n certain amount of trade between India and New Zealand, but his opinion was that it might be considerably developed to the advantages of both countries. Referring to criticism that New Zealand had not reaped from her Rhodes scholars tin benefit that might have been expected, particularly in regard to their participation in public life, he pointed out that it was first of all necessary for every one of the scholars on leaving Oxford to earn his living. The scholarship had been established only in 1903, so the benefit looked for would probably come yet. Most of the New Zealand Rhodes scholars had returned to the Dominion, but even if the}' had settled in some other part of the Empire, as he had, it must not be forgotten that the scholarships had an Imperial rather than a local significance. The Rhodes Scholarship Trust ia now asking scholars to find £50 per annum of their own to supplement the £300 of scholarship, in order to meet, the increased cost of residence in Oxford. "I think the University of New Zealand should pay that," remarked Mr. Ziman, "otherwise it is going to debar a number of otherwise eligible men from accepting election." GERMANS AT OXFORD. During the time that Mr. Ziman was in residence at Balliol there were 15 vermin Rhodes scholars at the University. Germany secured her scholarships by a codicil to Cecil Rhodes' will, in which he set forth his belief that union of the three great Anglo-Saxon races would be of undoubted benefit to the world, and would make war practically impossible. The selection of German scholars was ■wholly in the hands of the ex-Kaiser, and the result was they were choeen mainly from families of hie personal friends. Many were titled men, and all had to have some private income. One of those in residence in Mr. Ziman's time was a eon of yon Bethmann Hollweg, later German Imperial Chancellor. He won a place in hie college eight. Some other Germane tried hard at games, but came to England sadly handicapped so far as knowledge of that eide of life went. These men were allowed only two years at Oxford, then they had to return to army training. War was declared during the University vacation, and all stud aite got back to Germany. It was fou during the war that some of them used their knowledge of English and of British ways to work as spies. The majority, however, did good work for humanity in the care of Allied prisoners of war, so that Oxford training had accomplished something. The Rhodes scholarship trust will now have to decide what shall be done with the funds formerly available for German echolars.