BRITAIN FORGING AHEAD IN ATOMIC RESEARCH

Evening Star, Issue 26136, 25 June 1947, Page 5

BRITAIN FORGING AHEAD IN ATOMIC RESEARCH

(Rec. 8 a.m.) PERTH, Juno 24. A group of young New Zealand scientists had obtained valuable experience in atomic energy research both in Canada and Britain, said Dr Charles Fockcn, senior lecturer in physics at Otago University. He is returning to New Zealand.in the Largs Bay after visiting atomic energy research establishments at Harwell, near Oxford, and at Malvern, Worcestershire. Dr Eoeken said extensive research work was proceeding in England in the use of atomic energy in the, medical and biological fields. Atom smashing machines were being built at Malvern, where advances were being made in radar and radio technique, but these were on the secret list, and lie was not permitted to see them. His activities were also restricted at Harwell, where he was shown a selected list prepared by Professor J. Cockcroft of the physical developments of atomic energy. They were not in use in war time. It , was anticipated that the' first atomic pile would be constructed . in England by September. Atomic piles were used for the manufacture of artificial radio-active materials, and provided an intense source of neutrons. Dr Focken, who was a Victorian Rhodes scholar in 1928, will leave for Melbourne by plane to-morrow to tight relatives, and will reioin the Largs Hay for New Zealand in Sydney.