Many Learning A-Bomb Secrets

Northern Advocate, 7 March 1947, Page 4

Many Learning A-Bomb Secrets

I (P.A.) DUNEDIN. This Day. • Steps taken in the control of atomic I energy since the first atom bomb fell on Hiroshima a year and a half E.go I were reviewed by Dr E. Marsden, Director of the Department of Seie-.i-tific and Industrial Research, in an address to the 53rd District Conference of Rotary in Dunedin. “I think we are progressing,” said Dr Marsden, “but in the meantime many countries are travelling fast toward the time when they can also i build atomic energy machines and bombs. Four more short years and this could well be a reality.” Dr Marsden described the practical release of atomic energy as man’s first successful attempt to use for his own purposes, good or evil as he should determine, the basic power of the whole universe, the primary source of the energy of the sun, the conversion of matter into energy. In its wake was by far the most difficult social and political problem which had ever arisen from technical advance, and people were wondering whether science and engineering had outrun political machinery. Altei discussing wrnrld control measures and the need for British Commonwealth unity, Dr Marsder. said he hoped New Zealand would not, because of its size, be backward in scientific developments. The question was not so much of money as of personnel and conditions. In New Zealand at present the greatest problem was to create conditions which would stop the present undue drift overseas of the country’s best talents and even reverse the flow.