Study abroad ‘difficult’

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33425, 5 January 1974, Page 2

Study abroad ‘difficult’

(X Z Press Association) AUCKLAND. January 4. I Graduates leaving New ’ Zealand this year for ad- . vanced study in Britain J and the United States will face a tough exist- - ence on a “near bread- - line” level, says Associ- , ate Professor P. J. Scott, i of the department of i medicine at the Auck--1 land Medical School. I Professor Scott has just returned from a visit to the United States and Britain Funds for both universities I and research had been drastically cut in both countries, and opportunities for New - Zealanders, unless they had ■ adequate grants from organisations at home, were grim, t he said. . I

Placing promising young (New Zealanders in established research programmes lin the United States would . present no problems, "proI vfided we can fund them from •New Zealand,” he said. i ’ "1 was told in three centres Jon the United States West (Coast that their research fel'ilows require between ■|SUSII,OOO and SUSI2.OOO a • (year to survive if they are married with one or two II children; this is near-bread-jline level. • “Most of them are ’moonlighting’ (working at other jobs as well), with obvious t. deleterious effects on their • progress as far as training and general education are i i concerned. “Years ago, many of us . survived on extremely low • salaries and came to no 1 harm. It is important for the • ‘older’ people among us to , realise that conditions are I now entirely different.”

Cheap transport, clothing and food no longer existed in North America. Neither husband nor wife could relax in United States cities unless they were living in a reasonably safe neighbourhood, which meant higher rents and dearer transport. Professor Scott said that the proposed exchange plan in science the Prime Minister (.Mr Kirk) had discussed with President Nixon might lead to "some co-operative houseswapping,” leading to financial savings to New Zealand research-granting bodies or universities. Discussing Britain, Professor Scott said that whenever (possible, younger graduates ■ should be sent with a salary provided by New Zealand. “The cost of living in ■Britain is staggeringly high, :even in relation to the increased costs within New (Zealand.”