SCIENTIST PLEADS FOR BETTER PAY

Chronicle (Levin), 24 September 1946, Page 5

SCIENTIST PLEADS FOR BETTER PAY

-Press Association t

WOMEN SHOIJLD HAVE EQUAL STATUS

By Telegrgph-

WELLiAG t(Ji\, bept. Zo. New Zealand would never experience full benelits from science unless researeh work is recognised as a national investment and tlie cheapest safeguard against expensive mistakes, said Professor L. R. Ricliardson, in a presiden- ; cittl address to the New Zealand Association of Ecientilic Workers today. 1 Until sucli time, he said,' science in the I Dominion would continue, as in the pasf, largely by borrowing research re-sult-s from elsewhere and iniproving them to fit our own needs. Hciencp in New Zealand still provided a poor living for most perSons. Statis- . iics obtained through the distribution of salary qitestionnaires by the Association this year, showed that over a lo-year pefiod a scientist would have averaged an income of £500 per amium. faking into account his period of training, the scientist 's average income dropped below £400, a return which compared- favourably ouly with incomes from unskilled occupations. The employmcnt position was, as a whole, ari unhappy oue, Said Professor Ricliardson. It was coloured throughjut by utilitariau exjjediency and showed little evidenee of a comprehensive xrolicy aiming at a complete science service in the coininunity. Batisfaetory couditions for the employment of scientists were fuudauiental to the developfiient of science. An initial simple aualysis of the returns on the basis of salary earned, indicated that over 85 per cent. of scientists in New Zealand were earuing less tinui £850 yearly. Actualiy more than lial'f earned less Lhan £650 yearly. Tlie influenee of the war years was seen.in the change in loading in the lower salary categories from the £251 -£350 braeket to the £351£450 braeket. There were now twiee as many scientists in the latter braeket -hau in the former. There had been at least this improvement. There was encouragement for the initial- entry into iclentilic eni]ployment in New Zealand •mt the lack of signifiean t change for .he fiigher groups pointed to early congestion and cons'equent dissatisfaction" which would more than offset the slight gain made. It must be kept in niind ihat this rise in the starting salary was largely the result of the manpower shortage and could be as rapidly lost as gained in the fiuctuatio ns of the open market and absence of such eontrols as a professional award rate. It was the policy in New Zealand to grade women on a separate scale from .uen, said. Professor Eichardson. "New Zealanders take pride in the social advances made in this country," he conrinued, ' ' but in these returns there is evidenee of the continuing fallacious tradition of the inferiority of the fe.male. It is remarkable that this tra.'dition Fas npt' .disappeared in the ,em: ployrnent of' w.ohieh scientistsi'-' . These women had ' cbmpeted equally witk meh iil university studies and many had gained scholarships in open competition with men but in spite of these practical demonstrations of equal ability and equal intellectual attainment, the old tradition persisted. The policy of the Association had to be "Pay for work." The policy of viewihg women scientists as a cheap form of labour was not to oe tolerated. As far as could be ascertained from the qiiestionnaires, about 200 scientists were employed in private industry. If this figure were correct it ivas obvious industry in New Zealand was far from adequately availing itself of science and scientists in maintaining and developing production. If thi's were the case New Zealand industry was at a grave disadvantage compared with other countries where the employnient of scientists for the maintenance of standards and efficiency, developmenf Of new processes and production, was a lirmly established policy.