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NEW ZEALAND'S BRILLIANT SONS.

A MINING STORY. (By' Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) ' Auoliland, April 7. In the course of a talk with a pressman to-day, Dr. Malcolm MacLarcn (milling'geologist) had something pungent to say about the way New Zealand allows many of her most brilliant sons to drift away from her with talents that would bo of such value to their own country did she encourage them to stay.' "I have met them all over the world —near the head-waters of the lra\vadi t beyond Myitkyina, the frontier post ot India, in i Canada, Mexico, ancl tlio Uiiited' States, and nearly all occupying prominent and responsible positions," remarked tho doctor, adding, "and the'question arises: Cannot New Zealand stem tho loss of men who should be among tho chief assets of the country? The educational system of New Zealand is quite as good as that of any other country, not even omitting tho much-vaunted Germany, and men trained by it naturally seek a more congenial sphere of work elsewhere. There is, it seems to me, little encouragement given to highly-educated men to remain hero, cither by the Government or. by the country at large. The Cabinet has recently reduced tho salary attached to the . position of Government Geologist to £600 per annum, and has thereby materially reduced tho field of selection. Such a course might bo exnected from n. 'Donper' Government.' The stagnation ot the country and its indifference to intellectual progress is indicated by the subordinate position occupied in New Zealand h t v tlio professorial clement in the various towns. "Tho effect of the; attitude of 'Hoi Polloi,' here in Ncjv Zealand represented by tlii trades' unions, towards technical men is best illustrated by a. story for the' facts' of which I can vouch," continued Dr.MacLareh. "Somo ten years ago on the Thames a small battery was worked by the School of Mines' students. The mine was small and barely paid its way. By running the battery, however, for the full time, nine hours, during which water was available, the revenue iust met expenses. • The fact that tho battery ran a shift of nine hours .instead of eight was communicated to the local Miners' Union, and a communication was received, from the secretary of that body demanding the discontinuance of tho longer shift. No attention being paid to this request, tlio assistance of tho inspector of mines was invoked. A prohibitory notice was served on tho students. The senior derided that a. country in which c. man was not permitted to work- as long as_ ho wished was not a satisfactory 0110 in which to remain, and within two days was on ln's way to America. To-day ho is the leadinc cyanide specialist, in the United States, and New Zer.land is the poorer for his loss." '

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19110408.2.21

Bibliographic details

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1097, 8 April 1911, Page 4

Word Count
465

NEW ZEALAND'S BRILLIANT SONS. Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1097, 8 April 1911, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND'S BRILLIANT SONS. Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1097, 8 April 1911, Page 4

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