UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11587, 27 February 1901, Page 4

UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS.

The decision of the University Senate that junior scholars must devote their whole time to University work and that- the acceptance of a salaried appointment will vacate a junior scholarship will be received with very general public approval, even though it was only carried by the casting vote of the Chancellor. The arguments advanced by the supporters of the motion have very great weight. It is true there are exceptional cases of physical capacity for endurance or mental capacity for absorbing knowledge, but in the average case it is plainly impossible that justice can be done to a scholarship if its holder is working for the usual hours in some vocation. One of the objectors to the motion would have exempted certain classes of brain-work from its operations, but many will think that if there should be any exemption it should rather be of vocations which make no demand upon the mental energies. Driving a cab for six hours daily would leave a scholar in better form to profit by University classes than would six hours as" a school teacher. But such questions apart, these scholarships are prizes given to the mentally able to assist them in reaching the higher learning. The State is interested to see that its opportunities are not wasted, that the greatest possible gain to the sum of our national learning results. It is not to be supposed that doubly-worked scholars can do their best work. If the alteration results in excluding many of those otherwise eligible from University advantages, it would be better to make suitable arrangements for half the number than to fritter away the opportunities of them all. But we have little fear that there will be any. such disastrous eff