RHODES SCHOLARS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 114, 17 May 1927, Page 10

RHODES SCHOLARS

PLACE IN raiVERSIT^i

CRITICISM AT HOME

MR. PORRITT ON POSITION-

xnt\ Porntt > a New Zealand Rhodes scholar and a past-president A *he°xford University-Athletic Club discussed with a "Morning Post '-representative in London the reasons for Cambridge's series or successes in athletics, and the comments which have appeared in T?eh^ m 'l"vsPaPers regarding Rhodes scholars.

"The reason for Cambridge's victory by so large a margin," he said, is merely a matter .of the peculiar cycles in which athletic victories tun. Oxford's heavy losses in the past two years have caused people to think that there is something radically wrong with Oxford athletics.. '* -

This is not true, for in the eight meetings since the war Cambridge has won four and Oxford three, ana-"there, has been one tie. v > The records of all Wersitjr athletics show similar cycles of victories and defeats. , ''In common with other Bhodes scholars, I think the Press comments, direct and indirect, regarding the Ehodes men, have been far from comphmentary .to. a scheme which, in it, Imperial ongin at any rate, merits a better reception from the Mother Country. The majority of colonials feel on coming to England, that they are coming home, and it hurts them to have suchja reception. "Incidentally, all these things will reverberate in the colonial Press, and will be adversely commented upon, and. this will cause a certain amount of had teeling. '

The Ehoaes scholar question hag nothing,to do with the results of the a« ;Ktl<s- D meetings> alti«>ngh the problem of the Rhodes man is a problem in Oxford athletics. It is stated that Enzlish public, school boys, in order to ayod competition with older and more highly trained men from overseas, co to Cambridge, where there are no Bhodes men. The best English athletics are, therefore, to be found at Cambridge. "This would appear.to be a false policy, however, for it is obvions that at tne moment the Oxford men are not so good, and there is less competition there.

Various newspapers have printed comments on the Oxford system of training. Whatever this has been in the past year or two, there will shortly come into operation a new aud highly efficient system. THREE SOLUTIONS. "We have been, and are stilL .endeavouring to solve the Bhodes probllem. There are three possible» solations. The first is, of course, an ideal, and that is for the Ehodes Trust to decree that every second Klodes scholar from each Dominion should go to Cambridge. This, I believe, they are leeallv entitled to do. . " " ■ "

"Another possible way on* is to limit the age of Bhodes men taking part in University athletics, wbicfc would place them on an equal footing with the English Public School man, and might havo the desirable effect of bringing over younger .Rhodes scholars.

"A third solution would be on the lines'adopted in America, namelyj"'of prohibiting a Rhodes man from entering University athletics during his first year. ■■"*.■

"Tho great drawback to any - such scheme is the fact that to some extent it 'nullifies the essential idea behind the Bhodes will. He intended that the Bhodes scholar should be at the University on a give-and-take principle. To do thia .the" ideal scholar would take his .full share in every phase of university /life. Hence any scheme by which his activity was limited must essentially defeat Bhodes's object." "MORNING POST'S" COMMENT..

In, a leading article the "Morning Post" says:—"lt was seldom indeed that an Clympio (lames wreath was won by an athlete from Bhodes, and Pindar —rthat travelling poet who got commissions from every part of the ancient Hellenic world—never exercised his gift of sky-aspiring eloquence •in lion-' our. of a Bhodiau victor, so far as we know. So that there isnotj the vaguest historical precedent for the presence of Bhodes sscholars in the team of athletes Oxford sends each year to Queen's Club to vie with the representatives of the rival University, who are almost always home-made products; Time was when Cambridge critics, a little annoyed by the victories in the annual sports of the American holders of Bhodes scholarships; would hint that one of the motives of the famous founder was to give his beloved university a permanent advantage in this , particular .Battle of the Blues.; -Bhodes scholars, by the conditions of the Trust, have to be able-bodied as well as able-minded, and the American electare almost always well-trained and well-matured experts an gome branch of athletics—rather oiler and possessed of a riper physique and technique than the average uiidergradnate. Of late years Cambridge have scored so many easy victories in the Queen's Club" arena, the climax being reached last Saturday, when they won nine out of the eleven events against a team containing no fewer than ten Bhodes. scholars- from the United States, that no f such complaints are now heard.

Taking a wide view of the matter, it does not much matter which colour is in the ascendant at Queen's dub—the essential thing is the exhibition of athletics as a-.line art and a training^ in sportsmanship, the modern chivalry. Secondly, it must be remembered 'that the object-lessons given by these American athletes, especially in the field events, have helped to bring about an all-round improvement in technique and have been beneficial tc both Universities. Finally, we must bear-in mind the larger intention 'of the Bhodes foundation, which is to brine' all the English-speaking peoples into more intimate relations based on a tetter understanding of one another's mentality. It is this point which seems conclusive to Mr. A. E. -Porritt, a. Rhodes scholar from the Dominions. One of the suggestions for change he advances—that every second Bhodes scholar should go to Cambridge—is new to us, and perhaps worthy of further discussion."