SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH NEEDS BETTER FOOTING

Chronicle (Levin), 6 February 1947, Page 7

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH NEEDS BETTER FOOTING

-Press Ass\Dciatiori

By Telegraph-

YV JiUjLiIJN CrTOJN , Jj'eb. 5. Various signs of definite dissatisfaetion with many fealures of the organisation and utilisation of seientifio personnel and resources in the development of national welfare, exist in New Zealand. This assertion was made at a meeting of the council of the New Zealand Association of Scientific Workers heid recently. In a statement issuefi by the council it says that in particular the followiilg features merit atteution: — (1). Lack of adequate supply of well trained experienced scientists of all kinds to meet the growing needs of the community and steady drift of highly qualihed scientists away froin NdW Zealand. (2) Inadequate cooperg,tion is evident between the dili'erent . scientilic sections of the public service . at administrative levels and between departments of the public service and univcrsity. (3) Insufticient facilities within the country for handling many types of scientilic problems, the solution of which would be very benelicial to thc nation. (4) Inadequate recognition of the value of rese'arch and its results by this community. 0 It was agreed that in othcr parts of the British Commouwealth and in many foreign countries, a very big advance in the implementing of scientilic research and endeavour had been made since the' end of the war. In this New Zealand lagged behiud very markedly. The scientific frainework in this country had no comprehensi ve critical examination from without or within since the inquiry conducted by the secretary of the British Deiiartment of Scientilic and Industrial lteseaich which proceded the establishinent of the Department of Scientific and lndust:ial Ite search hefe in 11)26. It 'was eonsidered that the present was an opportune and necessary timo to make such a survey. The New Zealand Association of Scientilic Workers therefore decided to urge the Governinent to: (a) Invite a high scientific authority from Great Britain, such as the secretary of the Bepartinent of ScientiJic and IndustriaJ Kesearch of Great Britain, (Sir Edward Axipleton, F.B.S., to visit New "Zealand for the purpose of surveying thc whole scientilic frainework in New Zealand and making recoinmendations where necessary. (b) Appoint a committee oi scientists from the Government services, university and "'industry to co operate with the visitor in iireparing such a report. (c) Alford working scientists within and without the Gov: ernnient service the opportunity to submit evidence and recommondation.s to this committee for the betterment of scientific progrcss of all hinds in New Zealand. The above, in the form of a resolti tio n, was embodied in a lctter which lias been sent to the Priiue Ministor.