New Zealanders’ Part in Atomic Research

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 191, 14 August 1945, Page 5

New Zealanders’ Part in Atomic Research

Excellent Work by Seven Scientists (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August IS. Seven New Zealanders took part In the research work leading up to the development of the atomic Bomb, tho Minister of Scientific and industrial Research (Hon. D. G. Sullivan) stated today. They were sent to America for this work and are still there. Mr. Sullivan said when Mr. Fraser was in Britain in 1914, he had been asked by Sir John Anderson, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether in view of the extreme shortage of scientific personnel. New Zealand could release some of her best brains to assist in atomic research. The Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (Dr. Marsden), who was in Britain at the time, was consulted and he suggested five of his best physicists and engineers for the work. Four of these men at that time were employed in the radio development laboratory at Wellington which had been established earlier m the war to consider problems of radar application and to develop equipment for the use of New Zealand and Allied forces in the Pacific.

The leader of the New Zealand team Is Mr. O. N. Watson-Munro, M.Sc., director of the radio development laboratory; and the other members who commenced the research with him aro Mr. K. D. George, M.Sc., scientific liaison officer at Washington; Mr. W. W. Young, 8.E., engineer to the defence development Bection of the Department at Christchurch; Mr. R. M. Williams, M.A., and Mr. G. Page, B.Sc., physicists at the radio development laboratory Early in 1815, Mr. G. J. Ferguson. B.Sc., and Mr. A. E. Allen, 8.E., from the radio development laboratory, went to America and the Government had under consideration the sending of another highly trained electrical engineer. All these men were well trained in electronics for work on atomic power and explosives. The Minister said excellent reports had been received of their work and New Zealanders should be proud to learn that New Zealand scientists of this generation were in the forefront of the research started by another New Zealander, Lord Rutherford. As the development of atomic energy was bound up with the supply of uranium, bis Department had investigated the possibility of uranium resources in New Zealand. A reconnaissance search had been made for uranium-bearing ores and two possible sources had been located, but it was too early to say whether extraction would be economic even at the present enhanced prices. Thorium was also a possible source of atomic power. The importance of atomic power in transport and industry was best illustrated by the fact that the energy from one pound of uranium was equal to the energy from ten tons of coal. Actually the power from a pound of uraqium was produced from a derivative amounting to only one-twelfth of an ounce. Mr. Sullivan said the New Zealand Government would do all in its power to aid* the development of this power and for its application to tho best purposes of mankind. He paid a tribute to the work Lord Rutherford had done at the outset of the research and mentioned that Dr. Marsden had been one of Lord Rutherford’s students.

Tho Minister added that when Mr. Fraser received the request for personnel, an appeal was also made for men to work on jet propulsion development and four New Zealanders were despatched to Britain. They were Mr. N. A. Mac Kay, 8.E., Mr. A. A. McCutcban, 8.E., Mr. P. J. Hambleton, 8.E., and Mr. G. A. Hookings, B.Bc. These four were adding lustre to New Zealand’s name in scientific and engineering circles.