Commonwealth Scholarships Offered N.Z. Graduates

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29070, 5 December 1959, Page 12

Commonwealth Scholarships Offered N.Z. Graduates

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, December 4. Immediate applications are being called for seven scholarships offered by the United Kingdom to New Zealand graduates under the Commonwealth scholarships and fellowships plan. Applications close on December 14. The Prime Minister (Mr Nash) said tonight that graduates wishing to apply should approach their own university or the University of New Zealand immediately. Each scholarship is worth more than £650 a year and is tenable for two years. Fares to and from the United Kingdom will be paid Mr Nash said other Commonwealth countries were expected to offer scholarships to New Zealand under the plan, and details of these will be announced as soon as they are available. The Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Committee, meeting in Wellington, has had preliminary discussions on the award of up to 26 scholarships and fellowships by New Zealand to other Commonwealth countries Mr Nash said the Government had provided for an annual expenditure of up to £65.000 for the next five years to cover its contributions under the Commonwealth education scheme. Up to £30,000 of this will be available annually for the scholarships and fellowships plan. Mr Nash said this plan was a bold and far-reaching programme for strengthening the Commonwealth as a whole, and individual members, by educational exchanges.

“I believe the exchange of scholars among all Commonwealth countries, which is the basis of the new plan can have as profound and far-reaching an effect on the Commonwealth of today as did the institution of the Sreat system of Rhodes scholarships on the Empire of half a century ago.” Mr Nash said. !? expected that more than two Commonwealth scholars and fellows will be able to study in other Commonwealth countries under the plan. ~T ^e .Vice-Chancellor of the University of New Zealand (Dr. G. A. Currie), is chairman of the Zealand Scholarships and Fellowships Committee. Other members who have been appointed by the Government are: Mr K. J. Maidment, vicechancellor of the University of Auckland; Dr, F. J. Llewellyn.

vice-chancellor of the University of Canterbury; Dr. F. G. Soper, vice-chancellor of the University of Otago; Dr. J. Williams, vicechancellor of Victoria University; Dr. M. M. Bums, director of Canterbury Agricultural College: Dr. A. Stewart, principal of Massey Agricultural College; Mr F. H. Comer, deputy Secretary of External Affairs; Mr R. G. Rowley, officer for higher education in the Department of Education, and Mr N. C. Angus, superintendent of staff training in the Public Service Commission.