N.Z. “Service To World: Provision Of Scientists

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29713, 5 January 1962, Page 11

N.Z. “Service To World: Provision Of Scientists

“New Zealand provides a great service to the world in training scientists and engineers, whom she tempts to emigrate by offering them comparatively low salaries,” Dr. T. E. VanZandt, of the Central Radio Propagation Laboratories, National Bureau of Standards, Boulder, Colorado, said yesterday. Dr. VanZandt will return to the United States next week after three months at the Geophysical Observatory, Christchurch.

“Many scientists think that, for the training and work they put in, they are entitled to earn more than semiskilled workers, but often they do not," said Dr. VanZandt. “I have the impression that scientists are better paid in most countries than they are here. “A scientist may not produce gold directly, in the way that some workers do. but his contribution can stjill be fairly valuable. In the United States there are few professions that are better paid.’’ Although Dr. VanZandt’s main purpose in coming to New Zealand was to work with the ionosphere research

team at the observatory, he has taken the opportunity of looking round most parts of New Zealand and “feels quite at home here.” “The country is not nearly so different from the United States as I expected,” he said. “Christchurch, for example, is rather similar to American cities of the same size. I think when people say the cities here are different from American cities they are comparing yours with the great metropolitan centres like Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York, and of course they find a difference.” Dr. VanZandt visited the Wairakei geothermal project and found it “very impressive and interesting.”