SCIENTISTS NOT ENOUGH HONOURED BY NEW ZEALANDERS!

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1949, Page 4

SCIENTISTS NOT ENOUGH HONOURED BY NEW ZEALANDERS!

U.S.A. Visitor Delivers Them a Lecture

P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb 24. “The centre of world activities is sliding over to the Pacific, and, if New Zeaalnd is going to play in the regional and international game, it will have to change its methods,” said Dr. Herbert E. Gregory, in a luncheon address to the Junior Chamber of Commerce, here, to-day. Dr. Gregory was formerly Professor of Geology at Yale University and was formerly Director of the Bishop Museum, Honolulu, and he has attended the Pacific Science Congress. He said that in America, there was an impression that New Zealand was not part, of the Pacific. New Zealand did have ties elsewhere, but there was no need to break them. All that was wanted was a readjustment.

“You have become a famous exporter of meat and wool and brains,” Dr. Gregory added. “Intellectually, your standard is high, but there is no provision for picking out and training top-notch men. Why is it that men who made themselves famous overseas are not famous here? If you want it that way, all right, but your scientists, certainly are not encouraged and given opportunities in New Zealand.” Dr. Gregory said that he had asked two Now Zealand scientists whether they would like to go to America. Their reply had been. “When is the next boat?” He also had asked men from the United States, Scandinavia, Canada, and England attending the Congress, whether they would -accept chairs in their respective sciences at any New Zealand University. , The unanimous reply had been, “No.” “It is not a matter of salary,” hesaid, “but your professors have to teach most of the time. They have little time for study and research and have great difficult in getting equipment and literature.” American scientists had little douot about the ability of New Zealanders, but wondered to what extent they could count on the co-operation of New Zeaalnd in the Pacific, said Dr. Gregory. “There is nothing wrong with having every New Zeaalnder as good as the other, but you have tried to .make the intellectual level the same. That is till right, if you want it that way, But you won’t get top men if you do. He said ,that the congress was very successful in many respects, but the community had not entered into the proceeding. In fact, it appeared that the public has been excluded. Motor tours had been arranged for the overseas delegates only, and in the proceedings of the conference there were many discussions which the public should have attended.