Long Overland Trip Not Enjoyed By Scientist

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30364, 13 February 1964, Page 18

Long Overland Trip Not Enjoyed By Scientist

“It was very interesting but not particularly enjoyable,” said Euan Young, Ph D., commenting on his recent overland trip by utility vehicle from England to Ceylon, Dr. Young was in Kaikoura on Monday night visiting his parents, Mr and Mrs A. W. T. Young, of School house road, and getting his first look at the Percival Marine Laboratory. Dr. Young who has been studying at the Imperial College, Landon University, for the last three years, gained his Ph.D. last year for research work on the aquatic insect commonly known as the “water boatman.” His particular problem in this connexion was to attempt to establish, in layman’s language. why such an insect still retains wings but does not fly. He has returned to New Zealand to take up a lectureship with the zoology department of the University of Canterbury under Professor G. Knox. Poor Conditions

Dr. Young commented on social conditions in the various countries though which he and his party passed during their seven months’ trip. He was particularly struck by the poor conditions in southern Jugoslavia, saying that it was there they struck the worst possible roads which, compared with the smooth motoring from the Levant to India; were nothing more than tracks. The trip took Dr. Young and his party through Europe including Spain, Denmark down through Italy, Jugoslavia, Greece, Lebanon, Iran to India and Ceylon.

Of particular interest to Kaikoura people was Dr. Young's meeting wuth Mr R. P. McLaughlin on the outskirts of Bagdad. To get direction for the correct road he flagged down a small car bearing British number plates and, to his surprise, out stepped Mr McLaughlin, son of Mr and Mrs R. P. McLaughlin. former headmaster at Suburban school, who was his neighbour in Kaikoura for many years. Mr McLaughlin is working for the Bagdad water authority on pipe line construction. Dr. Young was accompanied by his wife, formerly Miss. Pamela Rawlinson, daughter of Mr and Mrs A. Rawlinson, of Dunedin, and her sister, Miss Pat Rawlinson.

Ceylon was the terminal point of their motoring, their vehicle being loaded aboard ship and the party travelling to Wellington by sea. Reasons For Return Asked why he had returned to New Zealand, Dr. Young said they had sorted out many countries and decided New Zealand was the best, and, in New Zealand, had sorted out the cities and definitely decided on Christchurch as being the best. Research In England

Research facilities in England were not the best, said Dr. Young, and although New Zealand still had a long way to go in this matter, it was far ahead, particularly in the zoological field. New Zealand, for the zoology student, was a wide open field, he commented, offering a

very wide variety of subjects for research. Mrs Young commented that, although facilities for research students were cramped and sometimes equipment was scarce, the quality of work being carried out in Britain was very high. Dr. Young agreed with this, adding that at Imperial College students were crowded in small rooms and shared single benches.

Defending Title.— The world welter-weight boxing champion. Emile Griffith, will defend his title against a former champion, Luis Rodriguez. at Las Vegas on June 12, the United Press International reported.— (P.A.)