IN DEFENCE OF “BRAIN DRAIN”

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31763, 21 August 1968, Page 14

IN DEFENCE OF “BRAIN DRAIN”

The “brain drain” is not a bad thing, according to the former Director-General of Agriculture, Mr D. N. R. Webb.

I Speaking at a dinner at the 1 annual conference of the New ! Zealand Institute of Agricultural Science, Mr Webb said that New Zealand, with a ■ population about that of Sydney, had to maintain effective national and local Government systems, including an army, navy and air force and social security and national health schemes and all the other frills and services counted as necessary to the running of a nation. “In the circumstances, it is perhaps not to be wondered at that the resources placed at the disposal of science are limited! Our salary structure will always be relatively weak, but there are, as we well know, other compensations to life here. “All can benefit greatly by international experience and it is unfortunate that all do not have the opportunity of it What we are desperately in need of is broader horizons and the inter-flow of scientists is surely one way of

providing enlightenment The brain drain can' produce rich rewards and we have benefited immeasurably by the inflow.”