VISIT TO CAMBRIDGE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 5, 6 July 1928, Page 4

VISIT TO CAMBRIDGE

THE HIGH COMMISSIONER BEFLECTIONS ON EDUCATION (From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 19th May. . Sir James Parr, accompanied by Miss Betty Parr, went-to Cambridge during "May Week," when tho University is much eh fete and "Bumping" is in progress. He went primarily to attend the annual dinner of: the Heitiki Club, and lie: greatly, enjoyed meeting so many New Zealand students. In addition to those working at Cambridge, there were a number of. New Zealandors from Oxford who were I guests on the occasion of the annual reunion. . He lunched in the rooms at Jesus College belonging to Mr. D. AY. E. Neligiln (the Auckland-born son of tho late Bishop Ncligan and Mrs. Neligan). Among those asked to meet the High Commissioner were Mr. ■ Garth Williams, Mr. D. H. F. Barnett, and Mr. E. Denis Blundell. Sir ' James fipent several interesting hours , on the river, and, guided by a New j Zealander residing temporarily in Cambridge, he saw a great deal that in- j terested him of tho colleges, chapels, , and world-famed "Backs." j As ex-Minister- of Education for ' nearly seven years, the' High Commissioner naturally sticks up stoutly for the New Zealand educational system, but, in the course of a chat, ho was fain to admit that the old world uni- j versities of Oxford and Cambridge do, I after all, offer certain special advan- ' tages to New Zealand students. "While I s^ill- beliovc," said Sir James, "that tho Now Zealander gets ' thoroughly sound instruction in his homo schools, yot ho lives' in tho most isolated and insular of countries, and for that reason the ancient universities do, undoubtedly, broaden his knowledge and his outlook on life, and give him a certain attitude of mind and viow of things that are • difficult to acquire in the institutions of any' young country. . • ' ' "Of course, comparatively few' people In New Zealand can afford University education away from home for their boys. For what does this moan' financially? It nieana that a New Zealand father has to find for his. son from £300 to £500 a year for at least! three years, and there are additional I incidental expenses. ! CULTURE WOETH WHILE. ' "The question arises: Is it worth , while? Well, if one regards education not merely as a means of earning a living, but rather of learning how to live one ?s life to -the full, then a careor afc Oxford or Cambridge for a New Zealander is by no means time wasted. Thero is no doubt that when young men are in rooms together leading their daily lives with one another rough cornors are rubbed 'off, and the lads are better prepared to meet the buffets and face tho problems of life. This must be so when thoy are with students from all over tho world—Britishers, Americans, South Africans, Australians, Hindoos, Japanese. Close alliance with all these hundreds ';of other students cannot fail to have a great educational advantage. Further, tho students acquire the historic sense ' which they cannot get in any young country. As one goea to the lecturo halls of the colleges ono is impressed by the fact that in so many of thdm lectures have been going on every day for nearly 600 years, given by great mon, and one remembers that soino of tho greatest men in tho Empire have been nurtured ' within these aucioiit walla. s'. •>!■•• Sir James Parr added that when he was visiting Jesus College lie was constantly reminded of tho late Sir Wil liam llerries—an English gentleman and man of fine culture; a most modest, yot ono of the most charming of men who gave no hint of his . great scholarship. Sir James remembered ' seeing Sir William Herries, more than once, during a tiresome debato, roading Virgil in tho original Latin, and frequently he had seen him reading in tho orignal the best French authors. Ho was tho moat expert poltical tactician that Now Zealand has over had. Jesus College was Sir William Herries's College. Sir James Parr noted with appreciation tlie amount of vigorous excrciso which the undergraduates enjoy. Ho regards this as a man's salvation, both physically and mentally. He was much pleased to fmd Mr, lan Horton (Auckland) No.il in tho Trinity Hall bo t, and to know that if he keeps this position ho will have the privilege of taking part in Henley regatta.