THE SEDDON MEMORIAL

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 148, 23 June 1906, Page 9

THE SEDDON MEMORIAL

-♦ TO THE EDITOB. Sir— Many schemes are now being put forward as to the form the memorial to Mr. Seddon should take, and I venture to add mine to the list, so that it may haye the opportunity of being criticised And considered. I think in deciding on ftie form of the memorial the following points should be taken into consideration : — (1) The memorial should be such that it will appeal to all classes of the community: (2) It should be of an Imperial nature. (3) It should be one which would have met with the support of Mr. Seddon if he had now been with us. I lay stress on the fact that the memorial should be of an Imperial nature, becaiise I believe that nearly every one in this colony, whether he or 'sue was opposed to Mr. Seddon in our local politics or not, was a warm supporter of his when it came to Imperial questions. Now, it seems to me that if some means can be devised whereby the money collected for the memorial can be invested and the income used insending our young scholars abroad to pursue their studies in other countries, we will have a memorial which will appeal to all classes of the community, will be of an 'lmperial nature, and will be such that Mr. Seddon would have keenly supported. The scheme I suggest is as follows:— (a) The public should be invited to contribute towards a "Seddon Memorial Fund." . (b) The moneys received should be invested by the Public Trustee. (c) The income derived from the fund should be spent in- providing scholarships for boys and girle who must nofc be under seventeen years of age or over nineteen years. (d) The scholarships should, if possible, be for £300 a year for three ' years for boys, 'and £200 a year for three years for girls. . (c) The boy scholar on receiving ttfe scholarship would, so long as he retained his scholarship, have to attend a university in tho United Kingdom, America, Canada, or Europe. (f) It would be most important that the body of men to decide which boy is to have the scholarship should be abso- ' lutely impartial and should also be -absolutely free from political influences, and I suggest that the following gentlemen should be the Board of Control — viz. : His Excellency the Governor, the Pre- - mier, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chancellor of the University ; the ' Governor to be the chairman.- -Each member of the Board to have one vote", and the Governor to have an original as well as a casting vote. • (g) The scholarships should be given as follows :— (1) To boys who haye at- . tended three years at a State school; (2) to boys who have attended three years at a High School; (3) to boys who have attended three years at a public school (by public school I mean such schools as the Wellington College,Wanganni Collegiate School, Christ College, St. Patrick's College, Te.Auto College, etc.) ; (4) .to girls who have attended three years at a school in the colony. The girls obtaining scholarships should have toi pursue their stndiesin any of the above countries for three years at such university, institution, or school as the Board of Control approved. With reference to the Maoris, it might be thought advisable, if sufficient moneys are subscribed, to give them a separate scholarship. Of course, it* IS impossible to say how many scholarships can be given until we know what the income will be. If some such' scheme as the above could be worked out I think it would get a very general support. Under' this scheme a boy, if chosen as a scholar, would be able to go to whichever university ho preferred for three years. He would have sufficient moneys *to be able to take part in the pastimes ot the university as well as receive teaching. He would be abb to work hatd and play hard, and ifc would be the means of keeping the youth of New' Zealand in touch with the youth of the* Mother and other countries. The scholars would, unlike the Rhodes Scholars, be able to go to whichever university they thought would be of most advantage to them. The Rhodes Scholars, as that trust is now carried out, are chosen from our university men; that means that. the scholar ffiuSt first go through the university here before he can be chosen, and will therefore be twenty years or older before he goes to Oxford. This, to my mind to a certain extent limits the scholar^ ships to those who -want to take up science research or the teaching professions. A scholar chosen under my scheme would be able to take up. almost any profession or calling in life. • If a memorial to . Mr, Seddon can. be thought out which is Imperial in its nature, I think you will find that New Zealanders,all over the world, and other Imperialists, will support it. If a scheme of the nature I have suggested were approved, I think it would be advisable for the Government to adopt it and to ask the local bodies and members all over the colony to collect subscriptions. Before the public are asked to subscribe ifc should be made quite clear that all details of the scheme will be settled by a board such as t suggest. The public . will then know that the trust will be administered practically and impartially.— l am, etc f LEONARD TRIPP^ Wellington, 22nd June, 1906. '