RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS

Evening Star, Issue 21285, 14 December 1932, Page 16

RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS

WHY NO APPOINTMENT WAS MADE The announcement-of the decision of the Selection Committee to appoint no New Zealand Rhodes scholar for 1933 naturally calls for some amount of explanation. To state as an obvious reason that the general all-round standard of attainment (as contemplated by the founder of the trust) of the latest nominees was deemed inadequate may not appear sufficient justification; but in the main that was the opinion of the committee, and it was forcibly urged by some of its members (states an explanatory memo., now issued). It must be borne in mind that the Rhodes Trust regards as of very considerable importance the appearance of the candidates in persons before the committee, for its instructions contain the following:— Committees need summon to a personal interview only such of the candidates as they choose; but, save in exceptional circumstances, no candidate may be appointed to a scholarship without such an interview. Another important point is that this interview affords a better opportunity than anv other means for ascertaining from the candidate the ambitions and aims they have before them in view of their candidature, and whether • these include a genuine desire to do work, now or hereafter, of definite advantage to their country or to the Empire. Further, the trustees have expressed the hope that, in the absence of strong candidates, the committees will make no selection. In tho 1932 memorandum received from the trustees appears the following;—“Distinction of intellect and personality is the primary qualification for a Rhodes scholar, and upon that committees should insist. A Rhodes scholarship is an exceptional opportunity for the man who is prepared to take advantage of it; but it is only for the exceptional man.” After the interview with the individual candidates it was the considered opinion of tho committee that there was no sufficiently strong candidate, or one of such outstanding intellect and personality as to warrant an appointment. It remained to consider whether it was possible to select any of the candidates whose age would exceed the limit set some years ago but whose application might be attended by those “exceptional circumstances” mentioned in the proviso. It was only after long deliberation that the committee resolved that it could not select any candidate.