THE RHODES SCHOLARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14326, 23 March 1910, Page 6

THE RHODES SCHOLARS.

From the : discussion at' the University College Council it would appear that some misunderstanding exists as to the positon occupied at Oxford by the Rhodes scholars from Australasia. The annual statement last issued by the Trustees leads to the conclusion that the ; conception of Mr. Rhodes N V is being satisfactorily worked out, and that a valuable interchange of thought and experience is obtained. During the last year an Australian student continued, by winning a Fellowship, his brilliant career in jurisprudence, another Australian took a first-class in the final Honours Schools, a Tasmanian took his diploma " with distinction" in geography,. and . Mr. Ziman, the Auckland student, took an honorary Balliol scholarship in' mathematics. When we bear yin mind, as Sir Maurice O'Rorke and Mr. Beatty pointed out, v that our- Australasian students are handicapped by thecompulsoryl Greek of Oxford, it is evident that -: they; are doing well. This, in fact, is the ; opinion of the Trustees. Nor was it, we would remind critics, the intention of -the great Empire-Builder to draw to his Alma Mater mere prize winners, His. scholars were to be honourable allround men, intellectually and physically capable, who not only ;at Oxford but in after life would do good work for civilisation. No marked results along these lines can be expected in ;so short a time, but that good results will show themselves in due course we see no reason to doubt. Of the 78 colonial scholars tabulated ; in the statement above referred to 51 had returned home; 12 were completing further courses of study; three went to India two to foreign countries; two to colonies not their own;.; some half-dozen* remained in England. As a rule they are not classical scholars, but they may be none the less fitted for the; work of the world, which cannot be expected their influence upon its thought and doings until another decade-has elapsed. Only then can we ask with reason: " What has become of the Rhodes Scholars V' ".