SOCIAL PROBLEMS Opportunity For N.Z. To Learn From Overseas

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32164, 6 December 1969, Page 1

SOCIAL PROBLEMS Opportunity For N.Z. To Learn From Overseas

New Zealanders are in an ideal situation to open their eyes to what is happening in the United States and other countries over social problems, such as pollution and urban environment problems, and take action to prevent them, says a young New Zealand scientist, Dr R. M. Macfarlane, working in the United States but at present in Christchurch on a brief visit.

A member of the staff of the research laboratory of 1.8. M. at San Jose, SO miles south of San Francisco, he says many Americans are becoming more concerned over social problems and less over technical development. The result is a lot of good brains being applied to solution of these problems, the most pressing of which are urban problems and pollution.

The majority of unemployed in the United States were in the ghettos and in the cities. New Zealand, however enjoyed full employment and most people had a good education. “There are places in the United States where there are signs near rivers and lakes saying ‘no swimming’," Dr Macfarlane said.

“And the smog is just tremendous—something like a

quarter of a million pine trees are dying because of the Los Angeles smog, and this is outside the city. “I think it is easy in the spatial isolation of New Zealand to feel that we don't have to worry—and look just at what is happening to poor, old America,” he said. He went on to speak of the need to train people not to drop litter. “Imagine what it is like where I live with five million people across the bay: disposing of ice-cream cartons and beer cans can despoil the whole landscape,” he said. There was the feeling in New Zealand that it was “dirty” to get into politics, but this was no excuse to sit back and do nothing about social problems. ' There should be more contact with Government repre-

sentatives, and people should tell them what they thought.. In San Francisco, the Sierra Club had developed into a conservation club and it had among its members lawyers, engineers and other qualified people which-enabled 1 it to make its own investigations on official, projects which could have a detrimental effect on the environment. Such an organisation knew who the .key pdbple were in the legislature and often effective action was taken in the interests of the community. Man’s effect was so great that he was upsetting the environment on a large scale. Dr Macfarlane said. “We are working on it in the United States, but I . just feel New Zealand is in a good position and has a great opportunity to prevent the sort of things that are happening." A graduate of Canterbury University, he spent 181 months on the staff before going to Stanford University i as a research associate for, three years. < He says he is involved with i basic research with 1.8. M. and , adds there is less investment in this as companies look to a more immediate return on their research dollar.

Dr Macfarlane, his wife and their two children will retiftn to the United States at the week-end.