CO885-8 — Page 154

?

384

|||||||

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885.

8

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

16

Mr. PETERSON: Really, as a matter of fact, it is under the control of the Educa- tion Department.

Mr. PELHAM I think it is important to a man going through a course of train- ing and education, to get a diploma which makes him a certificated teacher.

Mr. PETERSON: And no doubt such a diploma would be accepted as soon as it would be presented, but as a matter of fact, for the present there is no such provision.

The EARL OF ONSLOW: Has any other member of the Conference anything to say under the headings B and C? I think it was agreed, as far as D was concerned, that Mr. Peterson had something to say on it.

Mr. PETERSON: I wished to press the misunderstanding that might result from the wording of the clause. Of course, to my mind, Clause D is the reason why this Conference has been called together, because Oxford has been specially favoured by this remarkable gift. That makes it specially appropriate that the University authorities should put themselves in communication with the Colonies, and, therefore, I made the remark with regard to D on the clause which says:-"It is possible that the Trustees may assign the Scholarships to both (i) Colonial students intending to take the regular B.A. course in Oxford; (ii) Graduates of Colonies Universities in-

I would like to point out that many tending to pursue higher studies in Oxford." the Colonial representatives here think that there should be laid down a half-way house.

of

The VICE-CHANCELLOR: I think what was really meant was students intending to take some course which ends with a Degree, which would include Colonial students from privileged Universities.

Mr. PETERSON: I see, and all Colonial students from privileged Universities are urged to come to Oxford, because they will there enjoy certain exemptions.

The VICE-CHANCELLOR: The distinction drawn is that between a B.A. course and higher studies.

Mr. PETERSON: I have no doubt that outside the Rhodes bequest Oxford will still continue to draw those who will take advantage of residence in Oxford for three years, coming up just like other students without any distinction at all and going through their three years' work. But having regard to the status of the privi- leged Universities and the result of the working of the existing statute as reported to us, five coming annually, and nearly every one a graduate, one is reminded of the old conditions in Scotland. Scotland used to send up to Oxford persons who had already taken their Degree, and who were quite content to begin over again their studies at Oxford University. But as things are now, I would plead for a more liberal recognition by the authorities of Oxford of the two years' preliminary work done in the Colonial Universities, which often have a four years' curriculum. And that is the sense in which I should like to interpret the reference to the Rhodes bequest in Clause I. After taking two years of the regular course, they would still have one year of the Scholarship left available for any post-graduate or the professional course they might take up.

Mr. MATHESON: The course that Mr. Peterson has suggested is at present open to Colonial students or others who take the Honours course at their own University. This time the number is small, but it is because the legislation which allows that to be done is quite recent, and you cannot produce the proper men in a moment.

Mr. PETERSON: I am not any longer criticising the existing condition of things, but the wording of the clause. You may be able to improve it before submitting it to the Rhodes Trustees.

Mr. MATHESON: Quite so. Colonial students can come and take their Degree in two years if they have pursued two years at their own University, provided they take the Honours course.

name two

Sir WALTER SENDALL: I should like with regard to C to subjects which I hardly think are named. They are the two subjects of forestry and mining. I do not know whether it would be possible at the University of Oxford to include those two subjects in their curriculum, I do not know. They are very im- portant subjects to the students from Crown Colonies, and in that country from which I have lately come-British Guiana-they are of great importance.

The EARL OF ONSLOW: That would apply to India.

17

Sir WALTER SENDALL: Yes, but India is provided with such students from Coopers Hill.

Sir J. WEST RIDGEWAY: But should we ever send men to Oxford to learn forestry?

Sir WALTER SENDALL: I do not know, but if he came to Oxford, it would be a great advantage if he was able to get some instruction in forestry and mining.

Mr. PEMBER REEVES: We have our own Schools of Mines in New Zealand.

to be worded with any Mr. PELHAM Might I suggest, if we are on D, if it

idea of its being put before the Rhodes Trustees, that it might be possible to intimate what seems to be our opinion, that as far as possible scholarships should be given to students from the Colonies who have already spent some time at their own Universities.

Mr. PEMBER REEVES: Hear, hear.

Mr. PELHAM: I mean as far as the Rhodes Scholarships are concerned. Mr. PETERSON: Of course, the will says "schools," and I believe I am not stating too much when I say that the Trustees are prepared to interpret that liberally, so that they might include two years' residence at e Colonial University.

Mr. PELHAM: I think as far as the United States are concerned, they do not wish boys to come to English Universities until they have been to their own Uni- versities.

The EARL OF ONSLOW: It rests, mainly, if not entirely, between the representa- tives of the University of Oxford and the Trustees under the will of the late Mr. Rhodes. It is not a matter in which this Conference could interfere. It would be for them to put forward that view, and, of course, there is no objection to their taking it also to be the view that commended itself to the representatives of the Crown Colonies.

Sir J. WEST RIDGEWAY: Not the Crown Colonies, but the self-governing Colonies.

Mr. WARREN: May I ask if that is clear, that the representatives at the Con- ference do approve of that, because it would very much strengthen the hands of the representatives of Oxford who take that view.

Sir CECIL SMITH: May I ask whether it is the case, whether there is a prob- ability of a Crown Colony being included in the advantages of the Rhodes bequest?

The EARL OF ONSLOW: Two of them already are.

Sir J. WEST RIDGEWAY: If this recommendation is accepted it would exclude the Crown Colonies.

The Earl of ONSLOW: Naturally, the residence for two years at a University could not apply to a Colony that had not got a University, but the two Colonies named are Jamaica and Bermuda.

Sir CECIL SMITH: Have they got a University?

The EARL OF ONBLOW: They have not got a University, but I am talking now of the Rhodes Scholarships under Mr. Rhodes's will. Two scholarships are allotted. One will be followed up each year in the Colony or Island of Bermuda, and the Colony or Island of Jamaica, and as I think I said in my opening remarks, we are given to understand by the Trustees of Mr. Rhodes's will, that the funds will be sufficient to give Scholarships not only to those two Colonies, but to other Crown Colonies as well, but of course, to none of them would the University clause apply.

Sir J. WEST RIDGEWAY: What is the recommendation then?

}

·f

Mr. PELHAM: I was not making a recommendation, but I think that something could be said to the Trustees of the Rhodes bequest to the effect that at all events students from Crown Colonies should be included wherever possible.

13818r

ני

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH NOT TO

18