LORD RUTHERFORD’S VOICE

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 October 1939, Page 12

LORD RUTHERFORD’S VOICE

RECORD OF AN ADDRESS. The voice of the late Lord Rutherford, one of New Zealand’s greatest sons and the “father” of modern physics, was heard in Melbourne at the congress of the Australian branch of the Institute of Physics. Leading Australian Physicists and astronomers listened attentively to the reproductions of a phonograph recording an address given by Lord Rutherford several years ago, when he received an honorary degree from a German university. The record' was played after an illustrated lecture on “The Scientific Work of Lord Rutherford” by the president of the institute, Professor T. H. Laby, who was associated with Lord Rutherford at Cambridge University. Professor Laby warned the audience that the sound of Lord Rutherford’s voice, when reproduced from the record, might have a disturbing emotional effect on all who had known the great physicist. Sounding deep and clear, Lord Rutherford’s voice was then heard, commending the friendly relations existing at the time between British and German scientists. Another unusual feature of the session was the playing of a phonograph recording of a humorous song, composed in Lord Rutherford’s honour when he was awarded a Nobel Prize. Th? song is sung each year at the annual dinner of Cambridge research students. The record was prepared by a group of Australian physicists who had pursued research work .at Cambridge and who were attending the congress. In outlining Lord Rutherford’s historic work, the study of radio activity and the structure and properties of the atom, Professor Laby remarked on the kindness and consideration Lord Rutherford had always shown towards his colleagues. “Although he left New Zealand as a young graduate,” said Professor Laby, “Rutherford never forgot his native land, and he rendered it many scientific services. This attitude was expressed, too, in the numerous connections which he maintained with physicists in the Dominion. He went to great pains to accept in his laboratory research students from the Dominions, and he was quick to recognise in them real ability.”