SATURDAY. MARCH 11, 1933 TOURING SCHOLARSHIPS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 11 March 1933, Page 6

SATURDAY. MARCH 11, 1933 TOURING SCHOLARSHIPS

WHEN, last week, we were referring to the visit of a party of English schoolboys to New Zealand, mention was made of the isolation of this country, and of the consequent wisdom of sending New Zealand students abroad, as a wise method of finishing their education. For nothing can alter these islands’ insularity, and the race which inhabits them must always lack the benefits of that close association which continental nations enjoy.

Up to the present time New Zealanders do not, seem to have suffered any ill effects from their isolation. They are physically and mentally as well developed and healthy as they need be, owing to the excellent composition of their race, to their country's salubrious climate, to their system of education, and to an abundance of excellent food. At the beginning of this country’s colonisation the New Zealand Company, under the spirited and skilful guidance of the Wakefields, very rightly determined to promote the migration of people of English stock, and thus it was that thefirst settlements—Wellington, New Plymouth, Wanganui, and Nelson—were essentially settlements of English people. Then followed the settling of Otago by the Scotch and the founding of Dunedin, and two years later the founding of another English settlement at Christchurch. Thus at the very beginning of tho country’s colonisation the mingling of English and Scotch blood promised well for the healthfulness of the race which was to inhabit these islands. Furthermore there was the influx of a considerable Irish element, which grew considerably when, in the ’sixties, the discovery of gold in Now Zealand drew to these shores adventurous spirits from many lands. Thus it was that the foundations of the Now Zealand race were well and truly laid by the three great branches of the British race, and the result has been the development here of a race which is as physically good as it needs to be. True, in the ’seventies, the general standard of the New Zealanders physique was somewhat reduced by the injudicious selection of immigrants under Sir Julius Vogel’s scheme for filling the country’s empty spaces —a plan which was merely successful in filling the towns with people mostly of poor physique, who either were inferior tradesmen, or were of no trade at all. But what Sir Julius failed to do, was performed subsequently by ordinary methods of emigration, utilised by tens of thousands of healthy and capable people, who of their own volition determined to make their homes in New Zealand. It is clear enough that, up to the present time this young nation’s isolation has had no detrimental effects upon it physically, and that with judicious importations of new blood it may be kept physically healthy in the future.

In addition to the problem pi'esented by tbe effects which isolation has upon a race, there are to be considered the mental effects. The mental insularity of island races is proverbial, and it is to be noticed that the term is always used in an opprobrious sense. It would not be difficult to mention instances of island peoples which have deteriorated, or have made no progress physically and mentallv. because of their isolation. So far as the mental training of future New Zealanders is concerned, there would appear to be need to guard against the weaknesses which insularity naturally proj duces, for while island peoples are renowned for their robust patriotism, there is no question that through that very I quality they live in danger of imagining that they are sufficient for themselves, and require to leam little or nothing from continental peoples whose close as- ; soeiation tends to produce a high culture | and a mental outlook which is both i broad and enlightened. There is not much doubt that until the end of the 17th century England suffered considerably, in a mental sense, from the isolation of its people. It was to counteract the ill effects of this insularity that it became tbe custom to finish the education of promising English students by sending them on the Grand Tour of the principal European countries. What was evidently a- beneficial method of completing the education of the English student of that day, is equally good for tlie young New Zealander of the present day. Any money will be well spent which prevents him from imagining that this country is self-sufficient, or that he can acquire all the wisdom of the world in his beautiful islands. Only those who have travelled through foreign countries have acquired the power of putting their own country in its true perspective in relation to the rest of the world, To be able to do that is essential in those who, grown to maturity, are entrusted with their country’s affairs, or in those who are to be its guides in educational, social, and professional walks of life. In the past it was usually men of worldwide experience who presided over the destinies of this country, and the excellence of their work is nroof of the effectiveness of their training. To-day there is naturally a demand that the principal and most responsible posts in the country, whether in the Government, in the universities, in the professions, or in the secondary schools, shall be filled as far as possible by New Zealanders. This is quite a natural development which calls lor no censure, but rather for praise, but at the same time it is patent that such preference for the New Zealander must connote the highest possible efficiency in ■ him, if the country is to get the best possible results. And how can the. New Zealander, who has never left the shores ol Iris native land, be as efficient as his opposite number from, let us say, Great Britain, who knows his own country and this as well?

There is the matter of ways and means. ITow is the promising young New Zealander, who has passed through the schools and has perhaps taken his degree at one of our university ciollcgcs, to finish his education by making; a tour

of the world, with England as his chief objective, if he has no means wherewith to travel '! Wo suggested the institution of travelling scholarships, provided by the Government and private benefaction,’ to bo distributed among those of our university students who have distinguished themselves by taking their degrees with honours, though it would seem that provision would have to be made for their subsequently spending a stated term in their native land, lest they should elect to stay abroad, as has been the case with not a few of the most promising New Zealanders who have gone to see the world. To the English schoolboys who are now paying a short visit to Nelson in the course of their tour of New Zealand, we are merely expressing the feelings of the people of this city and of the whole country, when we wish them the happiest possible time while they are in New Zealand. May they have a pleasant time here and a safe voyage when they leave these shores on their return journey ; and may they carry the happiest recollections of New Zealand to the Old Country.