“Sad Position” In Scientist Shortage

Press, Volume C, Issue 29518, 20 May 1961, Page 12

“Sad Position” In Scientist Shortage

(New Zea’ana Pr«ss Association) WELLINGTON, May 19. Already there were not enough honours graduates in physics and mathematics in New Zealand to supply the needs of the universities, let alone Government departments schools. Sir Ernest Marsden told the annual meeting of the council of the Royal Society of New Zealand today.

It was a sad pos those responsible fo scientists, he said. For 25 years the Public Service Commissions had not recognised the worth of a first-class honours man. Whoever was advising the commission was giving a wrong sense of values. The situation was serious in all sciences but most pronounced in mathematics and physics. It was possible that the universities’ money had been distributed too generally and not concentrated enough on the honours schools.

Sir Ernest Marsden presented the report of the society’s physics and mathematics sectio" committee. which said the committee was disturbed at the small numbers of honours graduates in those subjects, especially considering the high proportion of first-class honours graduates who did not return from overseas.

Numbers The average numbers of masters graduates in mathematics, physics and chemistry a year from 1955 to 1959 was 14.6 first class and 16 6 second class. Of M.Sc. graduates in physics from Victoria University of Wellington from 1955 to 1959. eight had gone overseas, one was employed in a university, seven were employed by the Government and one was employed in a New Zealand school.

There was probably less than one first class physics honours graduate available each year to share among the staff's of all the universities. government research establishments, the Meteorological Office. defence, science, teaching, industry,

;ition and no credit to •r the education of etc. The position in mathematics was just as bad. While people with partial qualifications would continue to teach mathematics and physics in secondary school classes it was initially important that every postprimary school should have at least one teacher with really good mathematics qualifications and one with similar phvsics qualifications on its staff.

The committee said it would welcome an invitation from the Department of Education for consultations on these matters.

There appeared to be no facile short-term solution. Some help might come from televised demonstrations but purposeful organisations would be needed. The matters raised in the report will be brought before the Education Commission.