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Travel and Exchange Under Fire

Students returning from Australia who visited that country under the Travel and Exchange scheme were not satisfied with its operation. Particularly lacking—co-operation between the Travel and Exchange Officers in each country.

Part of the trouble was caused by students who changed their minds, their sailing dates and their ports of destination and departure every few days until the last day before sailing. When the last ship reached Sydney the cumulative effect of the confusion caused made itself felt.

No jobs had been arranged and students were referred to Employment Agencies most of which had very little to offer by December 12th. The Travel and Exchange Officer from the Sydney University did not meet the boat and although he had cabled to New Zealand so that the New Zealanders would know where to go none of the students received the message. Board was arranged by telephone on the spot but it was, in most cases, temporary, and from then on the students fended for themselves. This did not prove easy in Sydney crowded for Christmas.

In Melbourne reports were that the organisation worked like a clock. Board and jobs had been arranged. Planes, ships and trains were met. ..Enquiries made at both ends indicated lack of co-operation between Australia and New Zealand. The Australian Officer had a stronger case and had facts and dates to support him. Students from other University colleges all complained that it was difficult to find out anything from the N.Z. Travel and Exchange Officer.

The idea of the scheme is excellent and all those who did travel agree that the trip was worth the trouble but they are sure that all the trouble is not necessary. Australia is a great place for a holiday but as the scheme functions at present many of those who travelled felt that had they known it would have been far more satsifactory if they had made their own plans.

(It should be made clear that the present Travel and Exchange Officer, Mr. M. J. O'Brien, was not responsible for the scheme until all the students had left New Zealand and been in Australia for some days.)

This matter has now been discussed by the Executive and it is intended to review the whole scheme at Easter during the N.Z.U.S.A. conference. By that time Mr. Fitzgibbon, the representative of N.Z.U.S.A., will have made his report on his trip to Australia and it is hoped that Mr. George Pittendrigh, the Australian Travel and Exchange Officer for 1950, will be present at that Conference.