IN FAR FLUNG COLONIES

Evening Star, Issue 19951, 22 August 1928, Page 10

IN FAR FLUNG COLONIES

OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATES DISCUSSED BY UNIVERSITY COUNCIL The opportunities for University graduates for service under the Colonial Office in Hongkong, Malaya, Mauritius, East Africa, West Africa, Gold Coast, Palestine, Honduras, and other places were outlined in a report on the visit of Major Furze (of tho Colonial Office) to Dunedin recently presented yesterday afternoon to the council of tho University of Otago. The report stated that Major Furze arrived in Dunedin on Friday, August 3, for the purpose of conferring with the University Authorities. The only possible time for tho conference was on the Saturday morning following. There were present at the interview Mr Morrell, Mr Gilray, Sir Lindo Ferguson, Professors Adams and Henson. Major Furze explained that he had been sent to New Zealand by Mr Amery to confer with the University authorities regarding tho possibility of University graduates finding employment in tho colonial service. Ho explained that such an arrangement had been made in the case of Canada. The colonial service to which he referred did not embrace the self-governing colonies, but included such places as Hongkong, Malaya, Mauritius, East Africa, West Africa, Gold Coast, Palestine, Honduras, etc His mission had nothing to do with the Indian service, nor with tho diplomatic service, for each of which there was a competitive examination. Tho services for which graduates wore required were: Medical service, including general medical officers, specialist posts, public health posts. Generally tho double qualification of medicine and surgery was required, and probably one year’s experience. The chief medical services were East Africa. West Africa, and Malaya, and last year 320 medical officers had been sent out East and West A Incan Administration.—There was no definite basis of selection, but as a general rule a man should bo between twenty-one and thirty years of ago. The chief matters to be considered in making an appointment were personality, character, and temperament. One hundred men per annum had been sent out recently, and 60 per cent, to 70 per cent, were uni-versity-trained men. Tho majority of them "had obtained second and third class honours, and we.ro usually good at athletics Tho balance of 30 per cent, were men who had special experience. Agricultural Service. —This was a most important service, since ninetenths of the wealth of the places referred to depended on agriculture. A considerable improvement was _ being made in agricultural methods in tho colonies, and there was a shortage of biologically-trained men, and especially of entomologists. Two classes were recruited lor tho agricultural service;— (a) General class to Help settlers and to interpret tho scientific work. The qualification for these posts was a good scientific grounding, such as a degreo in agriculture of good character. (b) Specialists who should bo holders of honours degree in pure science with post-graduate training. A scries of agricultural scholarships was being provided for ten years from 1925 to form a nucleus of trained workers, the number being 13-20 a year, some for trained officers and some for specialists. Tho value of the specialist scholarship was £250 per annum for two years. The scholar would spend the_ first year under some leading man in His particular field of investigation, and tho second year at a special school at Trinidad. Tho scholar must agree to servo for three years, but 'a position was not guaranteed to him. Educational Sendee. —The problem of education in Africa was a very difficult one. It was the aim of the office to avoid tho conditions which had arisen through mistaken educational policy in India. Officers had to bo found (not necessarily educational experts) who, through special knowledge of native customs and sympathy with the natives’ outlook, would win their confidence. Sixty such officers had been sent out last year, two-thirds of whom went to Africa. Other Services.—Tho other services comprise: Geological survey, with from sixteen to twenty vacancies a year; Government mining inspectors and Financial Department, a few only. In all, the Colonial Office had sent out 350 men in and 475 men in 192/.

Major Furze also dealt with the method of selection.

The report was held over for con-" sideration at next meeting, together with a report from the Professorial Board.