SCIENTIST RESIGNS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 42, 30 November 1935, Page 3

SCIENTIST RESIGNS

“WRETCHED CONDITIONS.” MYCOLOGIST’S COMPLAINT. (Per Press Association). PALMERSTON NORTH, Nov. 29. “I am sorry to leave; but I am compelled to adopt tliis coiuse o cause of the failure of the DirectorGeneral of the Department of Agriculture to improve the wretched conditions under which I and my officers have to work,” said Dr. G. H. Cunningham (Director of the plant protection section of the Plant Research Station, and one of the leading scientific workers of the Dominion), in referring to his resignation, which will become effective to-morrow. Dr. Cunningham had given notice three months ago. He will leave shortly for Australia, and probably will go to England later. Strong Representations. In spite of strong representations by the Dominion Fruit Growers' Federation, which expressed the opinion some time ago that the loss of his services would he calamitous, and also by numerous branches of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, the Government has not succeeded in retaining Dr. Cunningham’s services, though it is understood that negotiations are still proceeding. The reason for his resignation was outlined by Dr. Cunningham in a letter to the New Zealand Orchardists’ and Fruit Growers’ Journal, in which he said it arose out of the refusal of the Director-General of Agriculture to remedy the unsatisfactory position ot the Plant Research Station „ Requests had been made for reorganisation of the station, with definition of tne duties of its officers. In the letter it was stated that -part of the station s finances were being squandered in instructional work, instead of research, and that no clerical service was provided* Cradling of Staff. Regarding staff grading, the letter says: “The staff consists of officers of the Departments of Agriculture, Scientific and Industrial Research, and the State Forest Service. Although carrying out comparable work, they occupy many different grades, and are in consequence paid varying salaries. This leads to considerable dissatisl action. ’ ’ As to salaries, it is contended that officers engaged in research wero paid much lower salaries than instructors, yet their training was more arduous and intensive. No attempt had been made to remedy this till after Dr. Cunningham’s resignation was submitted. It was also stated in the letter that the staff was housed in two old mornings. These were overcrowded, and were quite unfitted for laboratories, and all requests for more suitable accommodation had been met with an attitude of indifference. Dr. Cunningham was born in Otago in 1892, and educated at Victoria University College, Wellington, taking the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. He joined the Department of Agriculture in 1917, and has been mycologist continuously since 1919, and was transferred to the Plant Research Station at Palmerston North in 1928. He is a specialist in plant diseases and the systematics of New Zealand fungi. He was elected a fellow of the New Zealand Institute in 1929, and was New Zealand representative at uhe Imperial Mycology Conference in 1929. He served on Gallipoii, where he was wounded. His publications include “Fungous Diseases of Fruit Trees,” and 75 papers.

REPLY BY THE DIRECTOR. PUBLIC AVORKS ESTIMATE VOTE. WELLINGTON, November 29. AVhen Dr. G. H. 'Cunningham’s comments about the “wretched conditions” at the Plant Research Station were referred to him, Dr. 0. J. Peakes (Director-General of Agriculture) said he would not comment, except that the last Public AVorks Estimates had contained a vote for improvements, and plans were now under consideration. A vote of £SOO on account appears in the (Public AVorks Estimates.