Scientists Taking Better Paid Posts Overseas

Press, Volume C, Issue 29497, 26 April 1961, Page 14

Scientists Taking Better Paid Posts Overseas

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, April 25. Two more New Zealand scientists have resigned from the Plant Diseases Division at Mount Albert, Auckland, to take up higher-paid posts in Australia.

They are Dr. Oala Richards, who has worked in the Government laboratories for four and a half years, and Dr. R. 1 B. Francki, who has had two years at Mount Albert.

“When these two go. we will have lost five of our best scientists—a fifth of our total professional staff within four months,” raid the director of the division (Dr. E. E. Chamberlain) today. “Dr. Richards is the fourth member of our entomology section to go this , year.” Dr. Richards will go to the University of New South Wales as a lecturer la zoology. Her starting salary wUI be about £N.Z.IBBO. compared with her present salary of £1205. “This will rise automatically within two years to about £2000,” said Dr. Richards. “The prospects of reaching that salary here.

even within 20 years, are very remote. “But a bigger salary is not the only factor, or the most important,” she added. “I would have been happy to stay here if the other members of the entomology section had stayed.” Dr. Francki, who has been working on viruses, will take up a position with the Waite Agricultural Institute. Adelaide. From his present salary of £940 a year, he will start in Australia at £N.Z.1340, automatically rising to about £l9OO. "In five years we have built up from a professional staff of 18 to a staff of 25.” said Dr. Chamberlain, “and then we lose five of them in less than five months.

“We just can’t stand the loss of these people, especially when there is so little prospect of replacing them. We will be advertising for more -staff, but even if we get suitable applicants I can’t see us getting any more scientists until next year at least”