SCIENTISTS LOST TO N.Z.

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24800, 14 February 1946, Page 3

SCIENTISTS LOST TO N.Z.

CONCERN EXPRESSED PUBLIC SERVICE SALARIES HELD A CAUSE (P.A.) WELLINGTON. February 13. Concern at the loss to New Zealand of scientific and other professional workers who found abroad more appreciation of their talents than in the Dominion was expressed in an interview by Mr W. F. Young, chairman of the committee which organised the submission of claims on behalf of 1500 professional officers of the Public Service to the Public Service Consultative Committee. The Public Service was losing professional talent not only by departure overseas but also because highlytrained personnel had taken and were taking up other employment in the country, he added. Trie reason for this was that salaries and conditions of employment offered outside the service were much superior to those offered by the Government. Mr Young said it was well known that the Government proposed to embark in the near future on extensive development work. This could not be Eut in hand unless an ample supply of ighly-skilled technical and professional men was available. This point, he said, was strongly stressed to the consultative committee by representatives of the professional division of the service, who indicated that the only way to secure and retain the necessary personnel was substantially to increase the professional salary scales. Professional officers were disturbed at the delay in putting into effect the consultative committee’s recommendations. said Mr Young, who added that the professional group supported all other grouos and sections of the service in their representations, and hoped that all difficulties would be resolved in a statesmanlike manner.