DOMINION LAGGING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26379, 6 February 1947, Page 8

DOMINION LAGGING

SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS FULL INVESTIGATION SOUGHT P.A. WELLINGTON, Feb. 5. Various signs of definite dissatisfaction with many features of the organisation and utilisation of scientific personnel and resources in the development of national welfare exist in New Zealand. This assertion was made at a meeting of the Council of New Zealand Association of Scientific Workers held recently in a statement issued by the council. The statement says that, in particular, the following features merit attention:— 1. The lack of an adequate supply of well-trained, experienced scientists of all kinds to meet the growing needs of the community and the steady drift of highly-qualified scientists away from New Zealand. 2. The inadequate co-operation in evidence between different scientific sections of the public service at administrative levels and between departments of the public service and the University. 3. Insufficient facilities within the country for handling of many types of scientific problems, solution of which would be very beneficial to the nation. • 4. Inadequate recognition of the value of research and its results by this community. It was agreed that in other parts of the British Commonwealth and many foreign countries, there had been a notable advance in the implementing of scientific research and endeavour since the end of the war. In this, New Zealand lagged behind markedly. The scientific framework in this country had had no comprehensive critical examination from without or within since the inquiry conducted by the secretary of the British Department of Scientific and Industrial Research which preceded the establishment of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research here in 1926. It was considered that the present was an opportune and necessary time to make such a survey. The New Zealand Association of Scientific Workers had, therefore, decided, the statement adds, to urge the Government (a) to invite a high scientific authority from Great Britain, such as the secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research of Great Britain, Sir Edward Appleton, F t .R.S., to visit New Zealand for the purpose of surveying the whole scientific framework in New Zealand and making recommendations where necessary; (b) appoint a; committee of scientists from the Government services, the University, and industry to co-operate with the visitor in preparing such a report; and (c) to afford working scientists within and without the Government service an opportunity to submit evidence and recommendations to this committee for the betterment of scientific progress of all kinds in New Zealand. . This, in the form of a resolution, was embodied in a letter which has been sent to the Prime Minister. Mr Fraser.