SOLDIER' STUDENTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16404, 26 December 1918, Page 7

SOLDIER' STUDENTS.

AND THE GRADUATE COURSE

STRONG COMMENT BY THE

CHANCELLOR

On November 29th his Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), Chancellor of the University of New-Zea-land. wroto the following letter to tho Minister of Education"Sir, —l have the honour to draw your attention to the position of those students of the New Zealand University who joined tho Expeditionary Force before completing their' course. . In the circumstances I think' it would be only fair to give ißomo preference to euch students in their speedy return to thoir University work. 'if that were dono they would be able to enter theii; classes in March next without losing another academic year. I fee| sure that sympatny of both you and your Department will bo with tho students; and that tho Government will be only too anxious to help thom to resume their studies."'

' In 'reply, the Minister' of Education (Hon. J. A. Hanan) wrote on December 20th:—"I have to inform you that the question was considered by Cabinet and referred to tho Hon. Minister of Defence. The Hon. Sir James Allen advises me that he cannot see any good reason for.granting special privileges to University students in the direction desired. and points out that provision has been'made for fifty scholarships at Universities in Great Britain for members of tho Now Zealand Expeditionary Force."

In his reply to the above, dated 28rd December, the Chancellor said:—"The request I. made w&s that preference might be given to these soldier? in the demobilisation that is taking place, and you state thai the Hon. the. Defence Minister advises you as follows:— 'That ho cannot see'any good reason for granting special privileges to University students in the direction desired, and points out that proVisipn has been ,made for fiftv scholarships at < Universities in Great Britain for membors -6f the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.' I am amazed at such an excuse, being tendered by the Defence Minister. The granting of fifty or a hundred scholarships will not meet (what the students' desire. They hove broken their University course. Thev have a year or more to attend the university College in order to complete that cpurso. The Srant of a University, scholarship at an nglish University will not help them. Few, if any, of the English Universities will admit them adeundem status. Further, even if they were admitted to the same position—that is, that attendances at our universities was to, count. The programme of studies is qnite different,' and it would be difficult for them to fit in an attendance at tho English University with the work they havp already done in the New Zealand University: Some of them are 1 law students, and thoy wish to finish their ]aw courses in New Zealand. ' Some of them are teachers, and they wish to finish their Arts course here. No doubt the scholarships will bo of great advantage to many soldiers. . Those who have not started a university career, or who may have obtained, some degree in Now Zealand will be admitted adeundem pradnm in English Universities. I may also point out that if tho services of these students are not necessary, and that they can be permitted to attend an English University if tbev have obtained scholarships, why should not thoy be permitted to attend their Mother University'and finish thoir course P But the whole excuse is so inept and so abstird that I am amazed at such being put forward by tho Defence Department as a gtou*d for refusing tho small concession asked. 1 '