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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 1, No. 6 April 13, 1938
Mr. Savage Speaks — The Problem of the Graduate
Mr. Savage Speaks
The Problem of the Graduate
"Salient" has, since its inception, tried earnestly to discover what the Government's attitude to the University is. From Mr. Nash we obtained, the usual vague generalities and the suggestion "that we see Peter Fraser about it": from Mr. Fraser came the statement that "he regretted he was not in a position to make any statement in regard to the state of university education in New Zealand"!
Apparently, however, it was merely the dreaded word "Press" that inspired this reticence, because the N.Z.U.S.A. has succeeded in obtaining a valuable statement from The Leader himself on the Government's policy. Mr. A. P. Blair (Auckland). Mr. A. M. Quennell (Otago) and our own Dick Simpson were the gentlemen who succeeded in extracting the words of wisdom, heading a deputation from the New Zealand University Students' Association. Also present were Mr. Fraser above-mentioned and Mr. H. H. Cornish. K.C.—(you remember?—the gentleman who said "Hear, Hear!" such a lot at the Law Dinner).
Succinct Statement.
- (a) That our best men are needed in this country.
- (b) That our best men are not staying in this country.
(Now, you youthful graduates, preen yourselves! You are the "best men." and Father Savage is talking to you!)
"I was immensely struck," said Mr. Savage. "In London with the young New Zealanders I met. They had good positions and good prospects, yet they conveyed the impression that they had to leave New Zealand [unclear: be] were such young men who wanted to work in their own country and that their country needed their work."
One-Way Trade in Brains.
"It cannot be gainsaid that this one, way trade in brains has been a most serious loss to New Zealand. The men I have in mind did not go away in search of fame and fortune. They went abroad to seek opportunities and better facilities to carry on the jobs for which education and University training in New Zealand has fitted them."
And all sorts of other facts only a quarter of the New Zealand Rhodes Scholars have returned to their native heath; very few post-graduate scholars have come back; New Zealand discourages Its eminent sons.
Well, what are we going to do about It?
What the N.Z.U.S.A. intends to do is set out fully in the statement prepared by the deputation.
"The N.Z.U.S.A. proposes to call upon individual graduates and others already in the Public Service to act on a general body of graduates, this body to constitute a committee of inquiry. This committee will examine, analyze, and report on the situation in New Zealand. Presumably it will examine the relationship of the educational system to the [unclear: Public] Service and investigate to what extent these two dovetail."
But If they want scholars on their Committee why did they call on Mr. Say—Oh, I see! They don't want him to be on the Committee at all. They want permission for inclusion of several eminent Public Servants on the Committee, and also want Mr. Savage "To grant the proposed Committee facilities for obtaining such information from Government Departments as may be relevant and necessary to the fruitful conduct of the inquire."
We wish the Committee luck. Our efforts to obtain information from Government Departments in the past have been decidedly unfruitful!
Beggars at the Gate.
And what about the Government? Well, before the Advent of Mr. Savage—(said Mr. Savage)
"Tens of thousands of young people lost their opportunity to enter upon a career. They were locked out, like beggars at the gate. They were denied their right to opportunity of serving apprenticeships for skilled trades and of gaining experience for normal business careers."
"It is to remedy this parlous situation as far as is humanly possible and to prevent its recurrence in the future that this Government is devoting its energies. We are determined to repair some of the damage that was done before we came into office."
"No assurances, however, are convincing unless they are supported by evidence of practical effort. Here I can give you definite proof of this Government's policy." (Good gracious—is this really Mr. Savage saying this? This is [unclear: certainly] "scoop"—Mr. Savage is going to [unclear: the]
Splendid Achievements.
We really didn't realise that Mr. Savage loved us so much! Because he really has done a terrible lot for us. Graduates have been extensively employed in the Department of Scientific and industrial Research, the Geological Survey Department, and the Bureau of Social Science. The development of meteorological research has been made necessary by aviation expansion, and in this field and in that of plant research, qualified men have been sought after.
"All of these Department have called for University men nod recruitment has been largely made outside the radius of the existing Public Service. Those men who have spent a number of years fitting themselves for specialised work could not, of course, have joined the Government Service under the ordinary conditions which apply to cadetship. They were necessarily older and provision was made for them to be employed whatever their age, and they were given salaries which were fitting to their age, knowledge and experience."
The Government is to be congratulated on the splendid progress it has made in this, direction in so short a time.
Picturesque Peroration.
"I know this; no movement can hope to have a future If It has not got the young people behind it." concluded Mr. Savage. "Today, when democracies are threatened and held up to derision by totalitarian states I confess I feel dispirited, but not afraid .... Again I assure you and the young people yon represent, that this Government will never fall into the error of slamming the door of opportunity in the bright and eager faces of New Zealand youth."
And with a smile which said: "God bless you, my children!" the oracle subsided.
—R.L.M.