THE RUTHERFORD MEMORIAL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22371, 7 April 1938, Page 8

THE RUTHERFORD MEMORIAL

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —All friends and admirers of the late Lord Rutherford will be grateful to Mr Arthur Sims for his suggestion of a memorial scholarship to commemorate his pioneer work in physics, and for the generosity of his contribution to the endowment of such a fund. If the Government sees fit to contribute a like sum, the endowment will at once have become a very substantial one. But it should not be allowed to rest there. The memory of Rutherford is dear to a considerable section of the community, and it is fitting that others should have an opportunity of adding their mite to a national fund, in order to make it a representative appreciation of one of whom we are all proud. Perhaps “The Press” would consider the desirability of opening a subscription list, to enable those less favoured than Mr Sims to contribute in a small way to the proposed memorial. A much larger sum than that already almost- in view could very aptly be employed to found a scholarship on a sufficiently generous scale to make it attractive to men of senior rank and proved ability. There are now many scholarships available in New Zealand to aid young students of promise to gain experience abroad and to prove their worth. That the number of these is now almost too great is indicated by the number of such students who. after their extended training, are unable tp find posts in this country commensurate with their ability. Rutherford, while always interested in promising students and prepared to do a gnnat deal to help them, was much more concerned to find men and provide the means for the solution of big problems. On several occasions, he made it his business to procure funds and facilities on a most lavish scale, in order to ensure the success of an important experiment. There are many scientific problems in New Zealand, within the range of topics suggested by Mr Sims, which can only be hopefully tackled by men of considerable experience in research. And in ordei to divert their attention to such investigations, a scholarship on a more generous scale is necessary than that suggested, in regard both to emolument and also to travelling expenses, apparatus grants and the like. A fund conceived 'on these lines should be able to make available for a major problem something like £IOOO a yearand an endowment fund of £30,000 would not be an extravagant sum for this purpose. Thus would be created a scholarship unique in New Zealand and one fully worthy of the great scientist whose name it would so appropriately commemorate. —Yours, etc,, L. BASTINGS. Wellington. April 4, 1938.