SALARIES OF SCIENTISTS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29339, 19 October 1960, Page 19

SALARIES OF SCIENTISTS

Urgent Seen (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. October 18. Science in New Zealand had been allowed' to drift at an accelerated pace into a state of emergency, said Mr I. J. Pohlen in his presidential address tonight to the New Zealand Association

The urgent problem of stemming the losses of scientists by paying competitive salaries at ail levels had been merged into the broader issue of salaries for public servants, he said. The salary increases for public servants, announced last month, were £2OO to £3OO a year below the minimum levels needed to retain scientists.

The continued delay in reaching a simple decision has emphasised the need for scientists to emerge from their laboratories and explain more clearly th? gravity of the present situation. The economy of New Zealand was being undermined by the ■disorganisation of scientific research caused by losses of Government scientists.

The recent university salary increases had induced more scientists to leave, and without realistic counter-measures would divert nearly all of the most promising young scientists from research to university teachin/. In present conditions the Government could not undertake research in certain fields because it could not recruit nor retain the necessary staff of high quality. Its research projects in many fields were interrupted and delayed or abandoned for the same reason.

Consequently there had been a decline in the quality and variety of scientific information and techniques emerging from research. This had reduced the amount of new information available to primary and secondary industries. It was reducing the capacity of industry to advance with the times, to improve efficiency, to remain competitive, and to increase and diversify production. “It constitutes a grave threat to the welfare of New Zealand,” Mr Pohlen said.