N.Z. ANTARCTIC SCIENTISTS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28822, 17 February 1959, Page 12

N.Z. ANTARCTIC SCIENTISTS

Leader Critical Of Salaries (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN. February 18. “New Zealand has the best base in the Antarctic, but bur scientists there are the worst paid,’’ said Mr L. H. Martin, leader of the Dominion’s 1958-59 expedition In Antarctica, today. Mr Martin returned to Dunedin on Saturday. "The Russians pay • their Antarctic scientists double their normal salary, and a married man needs almost this much to make service there ■ even an economic proposition,” Mr Martin said, “New Zealand pays about £3OO Antarctic allowance, and takes part of that back in tax,” he continued. "At least the allowance could be tax tree. "The best scientists for the Antarctic are men in the 30-35 age group. But this is the very group which is most likely to have pressing family obligations. "While a married mail is awav all sorts of small things which go wrong at home—tap washers, locks, household appliances and the like—which he would normally fix himself have to be paid for at a high rate or else get left undone. The wife has all the burden of the work of the home and also of bringing up the children. ■ "Even when the man himself is prepared to accept the financial disadvantages of service in the Antarctic his wife will often put her foot down,” Mr Martin said. “We shall never get the best possible staff under these conditions.”