“Bodies, Not Brains Being Replaced”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31091, 21 June 1966, Page 3

“Bodies, Not Brains Being Replaced”

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 20. The Association of Scientists does not think that replacing New Zealand scientists who have gone overseas by overseas scientists is the solution to the “brain drain.”

“The council of the association is surprised at the apparent complacency with v.hich the Minister of Science (Mr Taiboys) said that though we lost 21 scientists between

1963 and 1965, those recruited numbered 27,” Dr. W. F. Chubb, the association’s president, said today. “This is a statement concerning bodies, not brains.” Mr Taiboys gave the figures in Parliament last Wednesday. Dr. Chubb said Mr Taiboys ignored the fact that the scientists who left had at least some experience of the national economy and welfare. Those who come to New Zealand were, in general, unfamiliar with local problems and conditions.

“This loss of experience, the disruption of research teams, and the consequent wastage of research effort associated with the departure of scientists overseas is important,” he said. “The replacement of man by man is not the answer to the loss of experienced scientific staff. “It is essential that research positions should be sufficiently attractive to retain a much greater proportion of scientists experienced in New Zealand conditions than is possible at present.”