STUDENTS TO GO TO OXFORD

Southland Times, Issue 23676, 26 November 1938, Page 8

STUDENTS TO GO TO OXFORD

Two Rhodes Scholars Selected

ONE AGED ONLY 19

VICTORIA AND CANTERBURY COLLEGE NOMINEES

(United Press Association)

WELLINGTON, November 25.

At a meeting of the New Zealand .Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee today over which the GovernorGeneral (Lord Galway) presided the fifty-second and fifty-third scholars were selected to take up their residence at Oxford next year. They are: I. E. Eerendsen, 8.A., Victoria University College, Wellington. G. C. Weston, LL.B, Canterbury University College. Mr Berendsen, who is omy 19 years of age, graduated Bachelor of Arts this year and won the University of New Zealand’s senior scholarships in French. He sat for his Master of Arts degree at the examinations just completed. Mr Weston gained his secondary education at the New Plymouth Boys’ High School. He graduated Bachelor of - Laws and has been admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court. Ht» sat for his Masters of Laws degree at the recent examinations.

Mr Berendsen entered Victoria College at the early age of 15. As well as winning the senior scholarship in French last year, he was runner-up in Latin. • Mr Weston, who is a son of Mr Walter Weston, managing director of The Taranaki Herald, is nearly 22 years old. He was educated at the New Plymouth Boys’ High School, and has been at Canterbury University College since 1935. Entering the High School in 1924, he won the under 10 athletic championship, and two years later the under 12. He took part in cricket, football, and boxing, and was in the preparatory school first XV for two years. In 1931, when he passed his matriculation examination, he was a lance-corporal in the Cadet Battalion. He took also a bronze medallion and teacher’s certificate for life-saving. In 1933 Mr Weston was in the first XV and second XI, as well as being on the football, cricket, swimming and sports committees. He was editor of the school magazine for this and the next year. Passing to Canterbury University College in 1935, he passed the second section of the law degree (having taken the first at New Plymouth). He was a member of the Dialectic, Drama, and Law Student Societies, played cricket for Old Collegians (having spent one term at Christ’s College)'and football for the University College. He gained a College House Blue for running, football and cricket. At the end of the year he joined the territorial forces. While still taking sections of the LL.B. degree in 1936, Mr Weston represented the college at cricket, and was in the first XV. He held executive offices in the Football Club, Dialectic Society, and College House, where once again he was awarded blues for running, football and cricket. Injuries prevented him playing football in 1937, but he represented the college at golf, held the same excutive offices as in 1936, and was a sergeant in .the territorials. He completed the LL.B, course. This year he has held the same offices as well as being a member of the Canterbury University College Executive, the Law Student Committee, was Canterbury University College delegate to the New Zealand University Students’ Association conference at Auckland, and reduced his golf handicap to 11. He was admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court, and is with a Christchurch legal firm. He is sitting for the degree of LL.M, this year. While at the University Mr Weston received the Butterworth Prize for Excellence (in law subjects), and was equal with Mr J. N. Buchanan Matson in gaining the Law Society’s Gold Medal for Highest Aggregate of marks over the law course. Mr Weston will take courses at Oxford in B.A. (Law) with Bachelor of Civil Law in the last year or a Doctorate of Philosophy. He will enter the legal profession.

PAYMENT OF PASSAGE TO ENGLAND ESTABLISHMENT OF FUND SUGGESTED (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 25. Rhodes scholars do not receive any payment under a scholarship until they have taken up residence at Oxford and the question whether they should be given passage money was raised and discussed at the Victoria University College Council last night. Mr M. H. Oram, mover of a motion in the matter, said students had to work their passages home. They had to go almost cap in hand to the various shipping companies to obtain a passage under varying conditions, such as a ship’s writer or steward. It seemed to him that kind of thing was not in accordance with the dignity attaching to the position of a Rhodes scholar and the honour of selection. He thought a small amount of money should be provided, either by the University Senate or some other way. It was decided unanimously to approach the Senate with a view to steps being taken for the provision of passage money. Mr A. A. Huggins suggested that if a fund was established from which passages back could be paid more might return to New Zealand. Professor F. F. Miles suggested there should be a fund from which advances could be jnade to all travelling scholars and Professor T. A. Hunter mentioned that a certain number of free passages were provided by shipping companies to post-graduate scholars who otherwise would have difficulty in going abroad. ASSOCIATION BEING FORMED SCHOLARS IN DOMINION (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 25. An announcement that an association of Rhodes Scholars in New Zealand is in process of formation was made by Professor F. F. Miles during a discussion by the Victoria University College Council last night. He said it had been discussed since the recent visit of the Marquess of Lothian, secretary of the Rhodes. Trust, London, and it had been agreed to go ahead. In an interview today Professor Miles said the idea was simply that if, for example, the Trust wanted to consult New Zealand Rhodes Scholars the association would be a convenient channel. Also, it was expected the associajtwn would play a part in choosing

Rhodes scholars on the selection committee. The membership of such an association at the present time would be about 15. . — -