I.C.A. SCIENTIST IN THAILAND

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28822, 17 February 1959, Page 10

I.C.A. SCIENTIST IN THAILAND

Christchurch Man’s Post A scientist trained in New Zealand and American universities, who is going to Thailand on a two-year contract with the International Co-operative Association, returned to Christchurch last week for a visit to his parents. Dr. M. D. Dawson, who was educated at Boys’ High School.

the University of Canterbury, Canterbury Agricultural. College, and Cornell University, is now associate professor of soil science at- Oregon State University, where he has worked as a lecturer and has done research on plant nutrition and soils. “I.C.A. is part of the United States’ mutual security programme to supplement the work which is not yet being done by the United Nations or any other bi- or unilateral plan,” said Dr. Dawson. “Under the Secretary of State (Mr Dulles), I.C.A. is being appropriated more and more of the military budget and Marshall Aid funds in order to give technical assistance, especially in the Bast.” ,-<®n Dawson, with other technieal .personnel, is working to analyse problems and reorientate them to American foreign policy, and to improve the economy" of Thailand, making the Government readily acceptable to the people. Prevention of further Communist infiltration is also an objective, but I.C.A. technicians only remain as long as they are aiding in education, health, technology and Government.About 68 land grant colleges supplied scientists to fulfil these contracts, Dr. Dawson said, each university having specific areas for which to train scientists. “The best thing Russia ever did was to fire that sputnik; it was a pearl Harbour to all concerned with education. Professional persons and P.T.A.’s are all demanding closer scrutiny of the system, and asking whether the schools are merely for entertainment and football teams’’ That inquiry would mean better and more adequately trained scientists in the future, said Dr. Dawson. With his wife and three children, Dr. Dawson will live in a compound for United States staff and administrators in Thailand for two years. They will then return to Oregon—where Dr. Dawson is still referred to as a “Colonial.” although he has dual United States and . New Zealand citizenship.