GENEROUS GRADUATE

Evening Star, Issue 22919, 29 March 1938, Page 2

GENEROUS GRADUATE

£5,(100 FOR RESEARCH MEMORIAL TO LORD RUTHERFORD SCHOLARSHIP WORTH £4OO ANNUALLY [Pee United Press Association.] _ f CHRISTCHURCH, Mar. 28. An offer of £SOOO towards the establishment of a research scholarship in memory of the contributions to science of Lord Rutherford has been received from Mr Arthur Sims by the Canterbury University College Council. The offer is made on condition that the Government of New. Zealand is prepared to make a similar contribution to the scholarship fund.

' It is proposed that the scholarship, to be known as the “Lord Rutherford Memorial Research Scholarship,” shall have an annual value of about £4OO and that it shall be tenable for three years. It is to be awarded for outstanding merit and promise in physics, chemistry, or mathematics, Imd is to be open not only to Canterbury College graduates but to graduates of the University of New Zealand generally, or of any other university who may be resident in New Zealand. The scholarship is intended to give the scholar an opportunity of further study, training, and experience in research at some approved institution either in the British Empire or elsewhere. The money subscribed is to form a trust fund to be administered by the University of New Zealand. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT EXPECTED. “Every member of this council will be deeply grateful to Mr Sims,” said Mr C. T. Aschman when announcing the gift at a meeting of the council to-day. “ The gift means that there is every possibility of establishing a scholarship- distinctive of New Zealand and worthy of its purpose, which is to commemorate the name of Lord Rutherford and give an opportunity for some of the intellectual strength of New Zealand to benefit not only themselves but their country.” Mr Aschman said that the representatives of the College Council had discussed the matter with the Minister of Education (Mr P. Fraser), and although he could naturally give no definite promise ’he was so taken with the idea of a scholarship as a fitting njemorial to Lord Rutherford and so sympathetic that the council was very hopeful that the suggested gift from the

Government would be forthcoming. Mr Fraser had said that the proposal would have his very strong support. He had suggested that it would be best if the trust fund to be set up were administered by the University of New Zealand. “ Even if the amount were brought up to £IO,OOO, Mr Aschman said, that sum would not produce the £4OO a year aimed at, for at current rates of interest it would yield only £350., The council was hopeful that money would be brought up to the sum necessary to provide the £4OO a year proposed. “ This will be the finest scholarship in New Zealand and it will not be one to be awarded lightly,” Mr Aschman said. “ It will be given not merely to a man of really distinctive ability in the special subjects stipulated. If no suitable person is offering when it falls vacant the revenues will be held until such a' man is available. If the funds accumulate an additional scholarship may be given from time to time.” A WELL-JUDGED GIFT. “ The generosity of Mr Sims, whom some may remember as a graduate of Canterbury College, in establishing this scholarship calls for our fullest thanks,” said Dr J. Hight, rector of Canterbury College. “ The gift is notable not only for his benevolence but for his judgment in selecting the worthiest memorial that could be devised to perpetuate the memory of Lord Rutherford. It will be far more permanent than the others which have been suggested. It is designed to help those students of distinctive ability who find themselves, as Lord Rutherford did after graduation, lacking the necessary funds to go abroad. It was only by a fortunate chance after Lord Rutherford’s graduation that an 1851 Exhibition Scholarship became vacant through the inability of the scholar selected to go abroad, and he was selected to fill the place. “One of the conditions of the scholarship,” Dr Hight said, “is appropriately that it shall be awarded for excellence in the fields in which Lord Rutherford made his_ achievement—in physics, chemistry op mathematics. I hope the people of New Zealand, through the Government, will join with Mr Sims and the university in establishing this scholarship which, in the opinion of all of us, is the most fitting memorial to Lord Rutherford.” Ha moved that the College Council express its thanks to Mr Sims for his very generous offer of £SOOO towards the Lord Rutherford Research scholarship. Dr G. M. L. Lester, who seconded the motion, said that it would be a great pity if the provision of a memorial to Lord Rutherford wer< left tb the munificence of one per< son. He hoped that a scheme would also be devised in which the college would take an important share. Dr Right’s motion was carried and a sub-committee was empowered ta approach the University of New Zea-. land and ask it to take the matte! up with the Government.