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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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me: Sir J. WEST RIDGEWAY: Where possible?
Mr. PELHAM: Yes; scholars sent up under the Rhodes bequest, and who are to spend two years.
Sir J. WEST RIDGEWAY: In other words the Scholarships should not be given to any students who have not passed two years?
Mr. PELHAM: No; where it was a Colony which had a University of its own, it would not.
Mr. C. P. LUCAS: Could not that be defined?
Mr. PELHAM: I am only anxious to cover it.
Sir J. WEST RIDGEWAY: The recommendation should contain some words about the necessities of the Crown Colonies, otherwise it would follow that Scholarships would not be awarded to any Crown Colonies.
The EARL OF ONSLOW: I do not think there is any fear of that, or any danger of that. What do you think, Sir Edmund ?
Sir EDMUND BARTON: What I suggest now, having in view the explanation made, that it is open to other Universities besides Oxford, with the privileged quali- fication that a liberal recognition should be made by Oxford, under section D, as to the two years, leaving it open to the University to apply for the privilege when they knew what was wanted.
Mr. PETERSON: As a recommendation from Oxford to the Rhodes Trustees.
Sir J. WEST RIDGEWAY: That would cut us out.
Sir CECIL SMITH: That would cut out the Straits Settlements.
The EARL OF ONSLOW: No.
Sir EDMUND BARTON: You would apply for the privilege.
Sir CECIL SMITH: In the Straits Settlements, Hong Kong, and Ceylon, and the Crown Colonies in the West Indies, there are no Universities.
Mr. PETERSON: There are provisions of the will which apply simply to schools, and those would be operative.
Sir CECIL SMITH: As long as Oxford understands that the Crown Colonies are not to be excluded because we have not got Universities, it will be satisfactory.
Mr. PETERSON: Oxford cannot overturn Mr. Rhodes's will if it says schools. The EARL OF ONSLOW: I think the words suggested very material recognition by Oxford of two years' study already done at a privileged University. It is obvious that that would not include a Colony where there is no University. It is only a liberal recognition. May it be taken that that is the general view of the Conference?
3. Mr. PETERSON: That is really the case at present, but it is important to consider the wording of the clause which is to be put before the Rhodes Trustees, and have it put in proper form. It would not do any harm.
The VICE-CHANCELLOR: I do not think we can go very much beyond what Lord Onslow has said just now, that there would be a liberal recognition by Oxford of the two years' study already done at a privileged University in one of the Colonies before coming to Oxford. There must be considerable variations. For instance, Mr. Rhodes himself has given Scholarships for three or four schools.
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Sir J. WEST RIDGEWAY: May I say that what we are afraid of is this: It rests with the Trustees to enlarge the number of Colonies to whom the Scholarships may be given. If this Conference suggests that they should only be given to youths who have spent two years at a University in their own different Colonies, and if it can be shown that in the Crown Colonies there are no Universities, those Crown Colonies would not get Scholarships.
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Mr. PAMBER REEVES ; -But that will apply to Colonies which have Universities: of their own.
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Sir J. WEST RIDGEWAY: The question is whether the recommendation may not be misread by the Rhodes Trustees.
The EARL OF ONSLOW: I think it rests with the representatives of Oxford to make it perfectly clear to them. It is perfectly clear to their minds, and I think we may safely leave it to them to make it perfectly clear to the Trustees. The point is, of course, the Trustees are bound to give these Scholarships to certain Colonies, and if those Colonies have no Universities, this-recommendation could not possibly bind them.
Sir J. WEST RIDGEWAY: They are not bound:
The EARL OF ONSLOW: They are bound to give two.
Sir J. WEST RIDGEWAY: Yes, but no more.
The EARL OF ONSLOW: And we understand they may give to more of the Crown Colonies.
Sir J. WEST RIDGEWAY: I understand. We would be quite content with that, Mr. WARREN: I do not think it ought to be understood that Oxford has made up its mind on this very important point. The matter has not been discussed in any way at Oxford. No doubt, opinions may be crystallising in that direction, and I think we should be very much influenced by what is said with the approval of the Colonies. We do not at all wish to interfere with the Colonial Universities, but there will be great advantages, and it will solve many difficulties if the majority of the students did come from those Universities. I do not think we have come here with our minds made up, or at any rate, speaking for myself, I am not prepared to put that policy in mouths of the Colonies. If they are prepared to accept that policy we shall be very glad to hear it, but Oxford cannot be said to have made up its mind on the point.
The VICE-CHANCELLOR: I can only confirm what Mr. Warren has said. This question has never been up before any authority in Oxford. It is a matter of indi- vidual opinion.
Mr. PETERSON: Have the representatives of Oxford had sufficient replies given to them under the heading B, which says:-"Are there special educational needs in the Colonies in regard to those students aiming at (i.) a political career; (ii.) one of the learned professions; (iii.) a commercial career; (iv.) the Civil Service?
"
The VICE-CHANCELLOR: Certain subjects were mentioned-economics and law- in the wide sense of the term. What we may call jurisprudence, natural science, and English, besides the ordinary classical subjects.
The EARL OF ONSLOW: Well, then, gentlemen, I do not think there is anything else that we can usefully discuss. We are much obliged to you for coming here, both the representatives of the Colonies and the representatives of the University of Oxford. I think we have elicited one very important opinion, which cannot fail to have a material bearing upon the settlement of the question as to whom the trustees should select for these scholarships.
Dr. CAMERON: Might I just call your attention to Clause D, where it says the trustees may assign the scholarships to Colonial students intending to take the regular B.A. course in Oxford, and in the third line it says: "And to graduates of Colonial Universities intending to pursue higher studies in Oxford." I think that description is a very ambiguous one. We have heard of two classes of Colonial students to-day, those who come direct from their own Colony, without any connection with their own University, and those who make their own University a stepping stone, as it were, to the Oxford University. I think the ambiguity would be cleared away if you said students from Colonial Universities intending to take the regular B.A. course in Oxford.
"
that would
The VICE-CHANCELLOR: "Intending to take the regular B.A. course include those who intended to take some course which would end by taking the degree of B.A. and that would include those who take the full two years' course at Oxford, and also those who spent two years at a Colonial University.
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