COMMENT FROM THE CAPITAL THE “BRAIN-DRAIN” JUST A FIGURE OF SPEECH?

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31399, 19 June 1967, Page 12

COMMENT FROM THE CAPITAL THE “BRAIN-DRAIN” JUST A FIGURE OF SPEECH?

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, June 18.—The view that the term “brain-drain” is a euphonious over-simplification, and that a balance between talent and opportunity in New Zealand is close to being reached, is held by members of a special committee that has been looking closely into the subject. In an interim report made recently, the points are made that the loss of top graduates to overseas positions is far from complete, and that there is at least a partial compensation in the talent from overseas which has been available to fill positions in New Zealand.

“Those who use the term ‘brain-drain’ to imply that the flow of talent is one-way apparently do not study our educational and other appointments lists,” commented a high authority. “They certainly have not noted the varied accents of those interviewed on radio or television. New Zealanders are either here or overseas. We can’t have it both ways, can we?” Studies Made

The term “brain-drain” drew the attention of the National Research Advisory Council more than three years ago. Separate studies were made by a group which included the Official Statistician (Mr J. V. T. Baker), and a larger committee with Dr. F. J. Llewellyn as chairman considered the problem. Just over a year- ago a small committee was formed under the chairmanship of Mr I. D. Dick. This is a permanent body, the other members of which are Professor A. L. Titchener, Dr. R. M. Williams, and Messrs W. O. Broad, D. Nelson and C. P. Mcßride.

Their interim report, recently presented to the National Research Advisory Council, is based on the proven outflow of graduates from New Zealand.

Tables have been prepared showing the loss to New Zealand of graduates up to the year 1966. These are not out-of-date figures, as many graduates now absent from New Zealand on post-graduate work will return. It is still necessary (and most desirable) for graduates to gain post-graduate experience overseas. The Graduates

Of first-class honours graduates to 1962, it was found that 55 per cent were in New Zealand, 19 per cent were still studying overseas, and 26 per cent were employed overseas. The figures for the next two years were: 43 per cent in New Zealand, 48 per cent still studying overseas, and 9 per cent employed overseas. The committee has made a careful analysis of the whereabouts of graduates, and has even broken the study down into departments. It notes the high loss of physicists (67

per cent) and mathematicians (48 per cent), compared with botanists (4 per cent), agriculturists (19 per cent) and zoologists (24 per cent). “This analysis suggests that of those with first-class honours, 62 per cent (148 out of 237) will make their careers in New Zealand,” the report says, "but of those with lower levels of honours 75 per cent (295 out of 394) will do so.

“This confirms the impression that our losses are highest among the most able —but not as high as has sometimes been suggested.” The report emphasises that action has already been taken to stem the flow of post-gradu-ate students overseas. It has been noted that many postgraduate students tend to find positions wherever they are studying, and to stay in them after completing their postgraduate courses.

The New Zealand Universities have already responded to the need by setting up new courses and by altering the system of post-graduate scholarships. Recent action by the University Grants Committee has meant that instead of going overseas for further post-graduate study, New Zealand graduates can conduct research for a year or more in this country. This must help them to find a permanent niche in their own country. The Future

There always will be argument as to whether New Zealand is doing enough to attract its own qualified and qualifying men. The former Under-Secretary of Mines (Mr C. H. Benney) has said that New Zealand’s attitude towards minerals has always been “unusual,” in that it has tended to ignore everything else but gold and coal. This, he said, was only just tending to be changed, by close appraisals of the ilmenite “ironsand” deposits in both islands. Mr Benney said that power resources could be used to develop electro-metallurgical industries—and yet the most notable centre for mining education, the Otago School of Mines, at Otago University, was “only just surviving.” A resurgence of mining, whether it comes through Coppermine Island, the aluminium enterprise, or the winning of metals from ilmenite and titanomagnetite, may come through the revision of the mining laws now being undertaken by the Minister of Mines (Mr Shand). It will offer scope for our own graduates. In the same way, nuclear development will provide scope for our physicists. Busy Recess

The Parliamentary recess of a fortnight, which ends on Tuesday, has been one of the busiest in memory. During thei

last 10 week-days, most members have been either “in residence” in their rooms or attending Select Committee meetings. Most heavily worked of the committees have been those on Statutes Revision, Maori Affairs, Local Bills, Lands and Agriculture, and Labour and Mining. These alone have a total membership of 55, which has meant that their regular and usually public sittings have occupied more than half of the House membership. Two committees, with a total membership of 24, have been more than usually in the public eye because of Parliament’s decision to throw their deliberations open to newspaper reporters. These are the Maori Affairs Committee (considering the Maori Affairs Amendment Bill) and the Statutes Revision Committee (the Sale of Liquor Poll Bill). As Minister of Maori Affairs and Attorney-General, Mr Hanan has been among the busiest members. He is a member of both committees, and because of his responsibility for both Bills has had to attend all sittings of both bodies. A number of other committees (the House has 17 in all) have met, and the chairmen report considerable progress. Had it not been for the recess, the committees probably would not have been able to cope with the work before them. Budget Preparation In addition, the Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) and the small financial group concerned in the preparation of the Budget have been able to work ahead steadily. The Budget document reached proof stage early last week, with the significant gaps still unfilled. Meanwhile the financial statement was being amended almost daily as overseas reports came in. It will be as late as Tuesday before the final touches are added.

The absence of the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Marshall) in negotiations concerning the Common Market has thrown extra work on other Ministers, and the final “squaring-off period” before the introduction of decimal currency has added to the pressure. Most of the Ministers and members consulted confessed to a feeling of relief as the week-end approached. Caucus meetings have confirmed the impression that this year’s pattern of an early sitting, followed by a working recess and then by the presentation of the Budget, is a most effective procedure. There will almost certainly be another reeess in the lateAugust early - September period, and it is not expected that the House will rise beore November.