NUCLEAR SCIENCE SITE

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28368, 29 August 1957, Page 14

NUCLEAR SCIENCE SITE

Americans To Help Investigation

American atomic scientists will visit New Zealand in October and, with a committee representing the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the University of New Zealand, will examine possible sites for the proposed nuclear science institute. ,This announcement was made to the University Senate yesterday by the Vice-chancellor (Dr. G. A. Currie) who said the secretary for Scientific and Industrial Research (Dr. W. M. Hamilton) had telephoned him- in the morning and invited the university to appoint two representatives to the fact-finding committee, which would examine possible sites on the camptis of each university, the Gracefield D.S.I.R. Laboratories, and elsewhere. He proposed Dr. F. J. Llewellyn, Rector of Canterbury University College, and Professor D. Walker, professor of physics at Victoria University College, both of whom had been intimately concerned with earlier discussions.

The university was asked to send representatives to join unnamed American scientists and unnamed D.S.I.R. representatives, but the day before it. had requested the Government to invite a suggested overseas expert, said Dr. J. Williams, principal of Victoria University College. Was this consistent?

There would be two university men and two D.S.I.R. men under the chairmanship of Dr. Hamilton, said Dr. Currie. He did not think such a procedure would cut across the Senate’s scheme. “I don’t see how this committee can inspect pieces of land and disregard policy for nuclear science,” said Mr K. J. Maidment, principal of Auckland University College. The temptation would exist for some people to say: ‘You have had expert advice and the university was a party.’ ” Would the timing prohibit consultation of Sir John Cockcroft? asked Mr Maidment.

It was agreed to co-operate in the investigation of sites and that Dr. Llewellyn and Professor Walker should report to the university. A further resolution was carried that if the Government was not inviting Sir John Cockcroft to advise, the university should.