Need For Better Research Facilities In N.Z. Seen

Press, Volume C, Issue 29477, 1 April 1961, Page 11

Need For Better Research Facilities In N.Z. Seen

U New Zealand is to avoid the increasing loss of her university-trained graduates and research students to Australia and other overseas institutions. it is Imperative that much greater sums of money are devoted to the provision of adequate research facilities. This is the view of Mr John Broomfield, a former graduate in history of the University of Canterbury.

At present the holder of an Australian National University Scholarship. Mr Broomfield has been working since January of last year, at the Canberra School of Advanced Studies, a newly-established department of the university. At this school there were almost equal numbers of Australians and New Zealanders doing research in social, medical and political sciences, he said last evening. After leaving New Zealand he spent an inaugural period of seven months at the university in Canberra before leaving for six months’ research in India. His particular study was the political history of Bengal during the first Quarter of this century. Mr Broomfield travelled in both India and West Pakistan, though his work was centred in Calcutta. z With his Christchurch-born wife, Mr Broomfield is spending a short leave in New Zealand before returning to Australia and India to further his studies. Perhaps the most striking feature of his experiences in these countries had been the realisation of the growing awareness in Australia and the countries of South-east Asia of their relative nearness and interdependence, said Mr Broomfield. “Austra-

lia is really waking up to the importance of making a closer study of her near neighbours, both in language, history and culture,” he said. Valuable Records

“There is no doubt this country will, in the future, be one of the leading countries in the world for research. Already Australia is in possession of many valuable historical records ((from India and other Asian countries) which have no duplicates in the United Kingdom, previously the world’s centre for much Asian research. “Surely if it was possible for Australia to start almost completely from scratch in creating these research facilities, it should also be possible in this country. There is no doubt that big business must have a hand somewhere to aid in the development of such institutions. For example a large commercial firm in Melbourne has largely financed the new School for Oriental Studies in Australia. “Of course there is a grave shortage throughout the world of good universitytrained people, and there is no doubt the best research and teaching facilities combined with the best salaries will attract the best men. “I do believe strongly that New Zealand should realise this fact and that we must equip ourselves to compete in the world market as others have. The difference in the Australian attitude is quite noticeable to a New Zealander. Australia seems to be really wrapped up with the future of the Asdan and Pacific countries,” he said.