Once in crime detection tales the butler or valet was always the villain, if he wasn't the victim; today art and democracy have progressed so far that he is presented as at least the assistant detective.

But in everyday life we meet hardly a single Jeeves or Bunter. Surely even New Zealand's socialism would find room for such useful beings and even our capitalism could support them.

Abundant Initiative

Why then don't they exist here? It can't be for want of material; New Zealanders have abundant initiative and ability, so almost every tourist assures us (and those who don't are probably silent for admiration). So it must be the training that is lacking; after all, such paragons are not only excellent servants—tactful, able, never making mistakes—they are also walking encyclopaedias and universal handymen.

Bursary Scheme

Candidates could be carefully selected under a Government bursary scheme and sent to university to follow a course based on useful and general knowledge as far as possible; they should have a moderate training in social and sporting skills; so that by graduation they would be able to quote and identify any author, translate any language—including codes—know all psychological reactions, deal with chemical experiments, know the habits of any animal or plant, be expert in graphology, poisons, fine arts, boxing and wrestling (i.e. Rugby), dancing, mechanics, and polite conversation—and, of course, be good looking and have the right politics.

It is a project Victoria could pioneer in New Zealand—and, indeed, in the world. We can foresee a rosy future when this career is the ambition of every youngster; when Jeevianism rivals even school-teaching as the end of a University degree, though of a much higher standard.