U.S. Mission To Advise On Nuclear Research

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28543, 24 March 1958, Page 12

U.S. Mission To Advise On Nuclear Research

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 23. The United States Atomic Energy Commission had allotted 100,000 milligrammes of enriched uranium for distribution under its Government’s Atoms for Peace” programme, said Mr Russell L. Kirk leader of the six-man atomic energy mission which will confer with the New Zealand Government on setting up a nuclear research institute in the country.

Mr Kirk, who is assistant director of technical programmes for the International Affairs Division of the Atomic Energy Commission, said that half of the uranium isotopes for peaceful uses had been given to domestic concerns in the United States and half had been set aside for international programmes.

About 30 countries had research agreements with the United States and 14 or 15 countries had electricity power agreements, said Mr Kirk. New Zealand had a research agreement, which was signed in August, 1956, and the purpose of his mission was to co-operate with New Zealand scientists in setting up a research institute.

“Our mission has a fairly wide scope of experience in the research field and we are happy to let you know about problems that may be encountered and see that you do not make some of the mistakes we made,” he said.

“One of the problems that would be discussed in Wellington was the question of the site, said Mr Kirk. Meteorological and hydrographical factors would have to be considered before choosing a site.

“That does not mean a reactor is darigerous but we believe in being careful,” he said. Seismic activity would also be studied but nuclear reactors had been established successfully in earthquake-prone areas in California and Japan. Importance of Isotopes

The general use of isotopes produced from a research reactor in agriculture, industry and medicine was one of the most important fields of research, said Mr Kirk. One of the fields of isotope research that might apply to a food-producing country like New Zealand was the use of radiation as a form of energy in food sterilisation procedures. Asked whether a New Zealand research institute would be restricted to any particular field, Mr Kirk said no restrictions were imposed under the mutual research agreement “It is real co-opera-tion. We have done a lot of work on the subject which we have made available. An extensive library of research papers has already been sent to New Zealand. If your scientists find out something new they would tell us.” Mr Kirk said regular courses of training in nuclear research techniques were run for overseas students at various laboratories in the United States. If New Zea-

land went ahead with its research programme, scientists from New Zealand would be invited to the United States for training. If it was decided to establish a reactor in New Zealand, the scientists could be training in its use while the reactor was being built. Besides Mr Kirk, the members of the mission are; Dr. R. C. Anderson, assistant director of Brookhaven National Laboratory, who will advise on administration, organisation, staffing and financing; Mr Arthur S. Rupp, of the Oakridge Laboratory, a radiochemical engineering specialist, who will advise on the use of isotopes in agriculture, medicine and industry; Mr Carroll Zabel, of the Atomic Energy Commission, a specialist on research reactors and their operation; Mr John F. Healy, of the atomic energy commission, who will deal with health and radiation problems associated with nuclear research and Mr W. Herbert Pennington, regional representative of the U.S.A.E.C. in the Far East.

Mr Zabel, the youngest member of the mission, is accompanied oy his wife.

The mission was met at Whenuapai by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Holloway). The mission will be in Ne ’ Zealand for 12 days. It will confer with Government and university scientists and address meetings of scientists and the general public. The mission is not a permanent one. It was formed for the specific purpose of visiting New Zealand and will go to no other country. It will disband at the end of the New Zealand tour.