UNIVERSITY “DON”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21086, 12 July 1938, Page 6

UNIVERSITY “DON”

New Zealander Wins

Distinction

Brilliant Scholar and Athlete

By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, July 11

One of the Few New Zealanders to be a "Don" of the University of Cambridge, Dr R. M. Barrcr, son of Mr ; id Mrs T. R. Barrcr, of Masterton, returned to Wellington to-day by the Awatea. During the long vacation of the academic year, he was taking the opportunity of visiting his parents for the first time since he left New Zealand six years ago to embark on a brilliant scholastic and athletic career. Dr Barrer, a past pupil of the Wairarapa High School, graduated Master of Science at Canterbury College in 1931 with first-class honours. The same year he was the first nominee of Canterbury College for a Rhodes scholarship, but was unsuccessful. He was awarded a post-graduate scholarship in science and carried out research at Canterbury College. In 1932 he was awarded the Charles Cooke Memorial Research Scholarship for mathematics and kindred subjects, and later the same year, Sir George Grey Scholarship and, finally, the 1851 Exhibition Science Scholarship granted to promising graduates of overseas universities to enable them to undertake two to three years of research work under conditions most likely and render them of service to the scientific progress of the British Empire. He left for Cambridge in September, 1932, and subsequently received the degree of j.Sc. from the University of New Zealand. At Cambridge he obtained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and was qlected by the Faculty of Clare College to the Denman Baynes research studentship. He was elected a member of the Ray Club, founded in 1C37. Membership of this club including associates, is limited to 18 selected from the world’s scientific research workers. There have been only been two New j Zealand members, Lord Rutherford and Dr Barrer. A Full-Blue When he arrived in Wellington to-day, Dr Barrer was wearing a pale sky blue scarf, the insignia of a fullBlue of Cambridge University. He obtained his Blue for cross-country running. In 1935 he won the jubilee cross country championship against Oxford, and also the Combined Universities cross-country championship. He is a member of the Cambridge Athletic Club, admission to which is conditional on the breaking of standard times. Dr Barrer had made a name for himself in long distance running before leaving New Zealand, for he was Canterbury provincial cross-country champion and New Zealand University three miles champion.

High Reputation Dr Barrer said Cambridge had a high reputation for scientific studies. There were splendid facilities for post gr dilate research, and there were 60 researen students reading chemistry, 30 biochemistry and 50 or 60 physical science. There were considerable extensions being made to the laboratory and library equipment, half a million pounds having been recently devoted to enlarging the Cavendish Lahore, ory. Many additions were being made to the University buildings, and to many of the colleges these additions arc, as far as possible, in keeping with the traditional style of architecture ratner than of the latest modern design. Dr Barrer said die idea sometimes expressed that New Zealanders who went home to the Universities learned to lead a life of pleasure rather than equip themselves for a life of service was entirely incorrect. Studer 4 " at '.otn Oxford and Cambridge to-day worked hard, and there were any number of excellent openings, particularly for scientific research students. Industrial chemistry offered lucrative careers. Government positions had been creat J by the tremendous rearmament campaign of the British Government and in consequence, there were many openings for young scientists. He hims°it however, intended to pursue an acader. ’' career.