N.Z. Support For Astronomy 'Puny’

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29907, 22 August 1962, Page 13

N.Z. Support For Astronomy 'Puny’

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

SYDNEY, August 21. New Zealand’s "puny” support for astronomy was criticised today by the director of the Mount Stromlo Observatory in Canberra, Professor Bart Bok. Professor Bok told congress of the Australian and New Zealand association for advancement of science that “support for astronomy in New Zealand has been puny in comparison with that received in Australia.” Professor Bok. a Dutch-

born American citizen, said the Australian people and their political leaders deserved bouquets for the sympathetic understanding they had shown towards proposals for pure scientific research and the manner in which these had been supported. “It would be nice if I could similarly hand out bouquets to the New Zealand Government, but I am not qualified to speak about scientific developments in New Zealand outside my own field of astronomy.” However, he said that Australian political leaders “should realise we (Australia) are not spending the same proportion of our national income on pure research in Australia as in the United States and the United Kingdom.”

Professor Bok said the Federal Government still was not spending enough money on major scientific developments. He recommended the establishment of a Commonwealth department of science if Australia wanted to keep up its development. Professor Bok said his frankness was prompted by the fact that he wag an American citizen. “I have been here in Australia for six years and since I am remaining an American citizen I have thus far refrained from commenting on the general policies or lack of same. But I feel that now the time has come for me to speak frankly and this seems to be the proper occasion,” he said.