RHODES SCHOLARS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 70, 20 September 1939, Page 10

RHODES SCHOLARS

SUSPENSION OF STUDY

MR. BERENDSEN RETURNING

The University of New Zealand has now received definite cabled instruction from England that the Rhodes Scholarship trustees will approve the suspension of any scholarship during the holder's war service. The cable added that the trustees will permit the resumption of the scholarship when that service is completed.

The position, as it is understood locally, is that any case that is put up to the trustees for the suspension of the Scholarship on account of war services will be agreed to. The holder of a scholarship may not be eligible for war service, however, in which case the understanding is that the trustees will allow him to carry on.

When war broke out the two New Zealand Rhodes-Scholars who were selected last year* Messrs. I. E. Berendsen, Wellington, and G. C. Weston, Canterbury, were on their way Home, travelling by different ships,., Mr. Berendsen taking the direct Panama route and Mr. Weston going via Australia. Since then they have been in touch with their parents. Mr. Berendsen is returning to the Dominion and Mr. Weston has advised that he is continuing to England. Mr. Weston holds a commission in the. Canterbury Regiment, and if New Zealand Forces are sent overseas he would like to serve with that regiment. The Canterbury Regiment is allied to two British regiments, the Royal West Kents and the Durham Light Infantry, so that it is possible that he may link up with one of these.

Another Wellington Scholar, Mr., R. L. Meek, was also on his way to England when war broke out, to take up the Strathcona Law Research Scholarship at Cambridge University. He left by the same ship as Mr. Berendsen, and about ten days ago his father had a cable from him, stating that he had disembarked at Panama. It is expected that he also is returning to New Zealand.

So far as is known at present, the New Zealand University authorities understand that the selection of Rhodes Scholars, which is usually made ,in November, will be proceeded" with in the normal way.