KEEPING OUR SCIENTISTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 21, 24 July 1936, Page 8

KEEPING OUR SCIENTISTS

The president of the New Zealand 'Association of Refrigeration ex- | pressed the opinion last night that this I country had lost many men of eminence in science because the Governjinent of the day was not prepared to pay them salaries comparable 'with the benefits their services gave to New Zealand. This is probably i correct; but the blame does not lie I wholly on the Government. The president of the association himself remarked that producers and industrialists were becoming more scientifically-minded. They have not always been of this, mind, either in the application of the discoveries of science or in their appreciation of ihe work of the scientist. The Government has usually been prepared to go as far as the producers-^and even further—in encouraging re- ! search and only within comparatively recent years have the people who benefited most been willing to contribute directly to the cost. Now, , however, there is a growing appreciation of what may be achieved by science working with industry. As a result we may be able to retain | and use the services of research | workers whose investigations can most profitably be carried on here. We may not retain all, for science is world-wide and a Rutherford belongs to the world. Also New Zealand industry owes more to the scientific work of other countries than it can quickly hope to repay. ■ Our aim should be both to solve our own problems and to contribute to the ; common -stock-pf* worl d knowledge.