Poor Salaries Are Forcing Scientists Abroad

Chronicle (Levin), 20 January 1948, Page 5

Poor Salaries Are Forcing Scientists Abroad

Press Associatipn )

(Per

WELLINGTON, Jan. 19. A -elaim that the Public Bervice Commission is ereating chaos in tlie serviot by forcing young scientists to emigrate to secure piuspects compatible Vvjth their ability and attaininents and by buying replacements at salari'es which put them above tliose who remained in the service, was made by the president of tlie New Zealand Public Beryiee Association, ALr. A. J. Lewin, today. "The Public Bervice Association has strenuousiy urged its case for these men but without avail," said "Mr. Lewin. "Tlie consultative committee's recommondations in respect of engiiieers were not put into efl'ect and when thty Public Bervice Coinmission was aSked to set up a representative joint committee to go into tlie niatter, it flateiy refused to do so. Tiie case for the scientists was presented in great detail to the ' Public Bervice Board oi" Appeui and it was clearly shown that the salaries paid in tlie New Zealand public service were far beiow thoSe. paid for siniilar responsibilities uu.oLtiei countries. Emincnt and rosponsiblc witnesses testiJied fhat this >was the chief cause of the inadequate stafling of the Agriculture, Scieutiflc and Industrial R'esearch, and ' other Departments. . The Public Service Comniission's reply did not even attempt to refute any of this evidence but nev;ertheless only negligible results were ac.hieved. "This merely emphnsises the association 's' contention tliat the present method of flxing salaries in the public service is hopelessly inefficient. The Government, by its control of higher salaries, sets the standard. NevertheIqss, my association does not regard the tendency to eamouflage Government departments under the disguise tf" research council and boards, and so remove all control, as a proper remedy. A properly constituted tribunal with authoritv over tlie salaries of all public servants, could and would put an end to the present hopeless state of affairs without the loss of control involved in its backdoor methods,"