N.Z.’s NUCLEAR INSTITUTE

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28367, 28 August 1957, Page 12

N.Z.’s NUCLEAR INSTITUTE

Senate Requests Report

The Senate of the. University of New Zealand, “emphatically and as a matter of urgency,” is to ask the Government to invite an overseas expert to advise on the development 'of nuclear science in New Zealand.

The Senate will also ask that no action on the establishment of the proposed nuclear science institute be taken until the expert’s report has been considered by the Government and by the university. When the Senate met yesterday the Vice-chancellor (Dr. G. A. Currie) reported on “a lot of discussions and comings and goings in high circles,” most of them informal. Now Mr R. M. Aigie, as Minister of Education and also as Minister of Scientific and Industrial Research, had been informed of the university viewpoint that for the best development of nuclear science in New Zealand, a central institute should be established on a university campus, with its own director and controlling council; but that an overseas expert should first be consulted, he said.

The D.S.I.R. had informed the Minister that the institute could be established within the department, Dr. Currie said. This scheme envisaged university interests having access but working parallel to and not with the department. The university proposal envisaged an independent institute, with a director not appointed under the Public Service Act, and a pattern of pure research and services by its own staff and two groups seconded from the department and the University. Funds could be provided to extend the work in the laboratories of other centres. Invitation to Expert University interests had in mind seeking advice from Sir John Cockcroft, director of the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, who might come to New Zealand if invited by the Government, said Dr. Currie. “I feel the Senate should say that it strongly favours an autonomous institute,” said Dr. F. L. Llewellyn, Rector of Canterbury College. “It is desirable for the university to show its hand one way or the other, otherwise nobody but those directly concerned will know what we have in mind.” “I have never known a body to seek expert advice and immediately state its own views,” commented the Chancellor (Sir David Smith). Problems of Autonomy Dr. Gilbert Archey (Auckland) said he was not sure that he supported an autonomous institute. There could be unexpected problems. When Mr Douglas Robb asked whether a pattern might be obtained overseas. Dr Currie said most other countries concerned had atomic energy commissions and nuclear science institutes functioned under those authorities, the universities being associated. The meeting agreed with proposals from Dr. Llewellyn that support for an autonomous institute should be expressed and that the Government be asked to take no action until expert overseas advice had been considered.