EXPORT OF BRAINS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 259, 1 November 1937, Page 6

EXPORT OF BRAINS.

Students of the New Zealand University hold responsible posts in public and private service ull over the world, and an English chemist suggests, in a letter to Professor Worley, that this exodus of trained scientists has reached a stage when, in the interests of the Dominion, a halt should be called. The training of these young scientists litis cost the Dominion very henvily, and, though most of them would willingly remain, the higher remuneration which is offered abroad is too preat a temptation. In the past there has been a lack of appreciation of the value of research to industry, and especially to the industries of a primary producing country. Even in the case of the Cawthron Institute, an endowed research organisation which has done very valuable work in some branches of agriculture, an officer had to go round cap in hand to raise funds to keep some research services going. In other directions Jack of funds has delayed research into problems the solution of which would mean economies in production and improvement in output. Professor Worley puts in a well-founded plea for more generous treatment of the Government research stations, and also for more systematic investigation of our mineral resources. There are many marginal reef systems in New Zealand which might be developed into really payable gold and silver producers if adequate prospecting, combined with research into tho most economical methods of treatment were provided. Opportunities to use intelligence which New Zealand has bred and trained are here; the warning note from overseas should be heeded and better use made of students who are anxious to continue research work in their homeland.