UNIVERSITY GRADUATES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 13, 15 July 1939, Page 8

UNIVERSITY GRADUATES

(To the Editor,)

Sjir,—As you are aware, during recent months that hardy annual has again propped up regarding the export of our pest talent "overseas. In the forefront oi this argument are definitely the University authorities. In fact they have at lagt succeeded in inducing the Government to pet up a committee for the purpose of investigating the position with a view specially to ascertain whether it is at all possible to utilise to a "fuller extent the services of University graduates in the New Zealand public services. Yet the game University, which is so solicitous for its own graduates' future welfare, seemingly forgets their claims for attention when making apppmtIroente to its own staff. Time and again staff has been recruited from overseas, and I have the following esses especially in mind when making this statement:.—ln 1934, the Auckland i University College made appointments tp the Chairs qt Mathematics, JHstory, English, and Classics, and in. 1939, when the Chair of Law fell vacant through Professor Algie's retirement, a further appointment was made, The Victoria University College, Wellington, recent, lv appointed a professor in English, and, in 1935, in History, .while this year it founded a new Chair for Public Administration, In all these cases there were eminently suited and qualified New Zealand graduates of; high intellectual standard, coupled with examination qualifications, available, but they were passed over and outsiders were appointed. Indeed, it. is ironical that the same authorities are at present fighting tooth and nail to obtain permanent positions in the public services for their graduates, This seems another instance of the old adage, "You do as I say, not as I do, Surely this is a curious _ state of affairs which requires serious investigation, and argues that the Umvemty itself does not consider that New Zealand graduates are trained sufficiently for appointments in the constituent university colleges. Otherwise, if the New Zealand University graduate is as capable as the authorities would have us believe, why do they endeavour to foist him on to the various public services, and not first of all place their own house in order? Perhaps the variious students' associations would be well advised to investigate this matter and make representations in the proper quarters,—l am, etc., VERITAS.