DISTINGUISHED STUDENTS

Evening Star, Issue 22517, 9 December 1936, Page 13

DISTINGUISHED STUDENTS

WHY LOST TO H.Z. ? PROFESSIONAL SECTION OF PUBLIC SERVICE NEEDED [Pee United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, December 8. When in England, Professor H. G. Denham, of Canterbury College, who returned by the Mature to-day, found a very definite criticism in more than one direction as to New Zealand* inability to find openings for th» students it sent overseas. Professor Denham said that Dr Allen, who is m / charge of the Rhodes scholars at Oxford, told him that New Zealand absorbed the smallest percentage of it* Rhodes scholars of any country. The same comment was made both in Bristol and London, so much so that he felt that increased facilities for higher education should carry with them increased opportunities for the absorption of these highly-trained men. _ . ' . Professor Denham indicated that ni* view is that more of these student* should find openings in-the Public Service, and that to make this possible it would be necessary to have a professional section similar to that which exists in the Public Service in England. In England, men were able to go straight from Oxford to this section without having to start at the bottom, as they did in New Zealand, while the English professional section was used very largely for the selection of men for the higher positions. One could not speak too highly of the standing of New Zealand student* in England. Professor Denham said,That applied to the quality of the material and to the fundamental teaching that had been given to them. The chief weaknesses commented upon lay in the direction of less intensive specialisation arising from a deficiency in library ac« commodation, equipment for higher work, and the staffing of the sci-mce departments. In New Zealand one teacher might he in charge of 45 to 50 students, whereas in general in England one to 10 was nearer the mark.