A PROFESSOR ABROAD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21716, 3 February 1934, Page 16

A PROFESSOR ABROAD

RESEARCH AT CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY GOVERNMENT STUDENTS FROM NEW ZEALAND After spending what is known as a "Sabbatical year" abroad, Professor P. W. Burbidge, professor of physics at tho' Auckland University College, has returned to take irp his duties again. Professor Burbidge left tho Dominion in November, 1932, and, passing through Australia, went on to spend six months in research work at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge. Another two months was spont in travel in England and two in travel in Germany. On his return journey ho travelled for six weeks in Canada and tho United States. Professor Burbidge's primary interest while abroad was tho study of physics, but ho also found opportunity to look into such matters as university administration, seismology, astronomy and. wireless. "1 came to the conclusion that Ca\-en-dish Laboratory still leads the world in tho quality of its output," said Professor Burbidge yesterday. "Tho success of the laboratory is a reflection of tho wise administration of Lord Rutherford, particularly in tho selection of the assistant staff." Professor Burbidge pointed out that most of the recent advances in knowledge had been made, not by Lord Rutherford himself, but by members of the staff. Tho work had been dono with Lord Rutherford's constant help and advice. Professor Burbidge was himself working on a very abstruso subject—tho effect of radio-active rays and X-rays on crystals of rock salt. While visiting universities in different lands Professor Burbidge took tho opportunity of inquiring into methods of university control. Ho found thafc the almost universal condition abroad is that effective control rests far more in the hands of tho academic authorities than it does in New Zealand. Tho only exceptions to this in tho British Empire wero tho University of Wales and tho component colleges of the. University of London. In England tho usual constitution of universities and university colleges is that of a general controlling council, largely non-academic, with an acadomic senate and always an academic head or principal. The system in actual working operates so that tho normal running is practically wholly in tho hands of tho academic body, with the power of ultimate control in the hands of the less academic body, the council. "If wo are to dovelop in the future into a university—as wo must," said Professor Burbidge, "then it would seem advisable to work toward the provincial system of England both' in the matter of administration ' and in tho character of the degrees." Professor Burbidge met many New Zealand students while he was abroad, and ho found that they were held in very high esteem. They were well regarded for their good working quality and adaptability. He found among them considerable dissatisfaction with the absence of suitable posts in New Zealand for young New Zealrtnders who have been abroad. Quite 95 per Cent were eager to return to their own land, and Professor Burbidge considered that in view of the Dominion's isolation an endeavour should be made to retain the best brains of the country who have been sent abroad for further training.