SCIENTIST RESIGNS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 281, 30 November 1935, Page 10

SCIENTIST RESIGNS

LOSS TO DOMINION DEPARTMENT HEAD CRITICISED. [ Per Press Association. ] PALMEKSTOxN N., Nov. 29. “I am sorry to leave, but I am cum- | pelled to adopt this course because ox | the failure ol the Director-General of I the Department of Agriculture to im- ! prove the wretched conditions under I which 1 and uiy officers have Lu ' work,’’ said Dr. G. H. Cunningham, I director of the plant protection section of the plant research station and | one of the leading scientific workers of the Dominion, m referring to his resignation, which becomes effective to-morrow, Dr. Cunningham having given notice three, mouths ago. Hv will leave shortly for Australia aim will probably proceed to England later. | Despite strong representations by lhe Dominion Fruitgrowers’ Federation, who expressed the opinion some ' time ago that the loss of his services would be calamitous, also by numerous branches of the Farmers’ Union, xne Government has not succeeded in retaining Dr. Cunningham’s services, though it is understood that negotiations are still proceeding. The reason for’his resigning was outlined by Dr. Cunningham in a letter to the New Zealand Orcliardist Fruitgrowers’ Journal, in which he said that his resignation arose out of the refusal of the Director-General to remedy the unsatisfactory position at the plant research station. Requests had been made for reorganisation of the station with a definition of the duties of officers. The letter alleged that part of the station’s finances were being squandered in instruction,l work, instead of research. No clerical service was provided. Regarding staff grading, the letter says that the staff consists of officers of the Department of Agriculture. Scientific and Industrial Research, and State Forests. Although carrying out comparable work they occupy many different grades and are in consequence paid varying salaries. This leads to considerable dissatisfaction. Regarding salaries, it is contended that the officers engaged in research are paid much lower than the instructors, yet their training is more arduous and intensive. No attempt had been made to remedy this till alter Dr. Cunningham’s resignation Nvas submitted. ! It was also stated in the letter that | the stall is housed in two old buildings | and these are overcrowded and quite I unfitted for laboratories. All requests for more suitable accommodation had I been met with an attitude of indiffcr- | enee.

I Born in Otago in 1892 Dr. Cunningham engaged in fruit-growing and farming pursuits before the war, when he joined the Otago Infantry, N.Z.E.F., as brigade scout. He took part in the landing at Gallipoli, but was severely wounded in the first fortnight of operations, subsequently spending two years in various hospitals. He joined the Department of Agriculture in 1917 and in 1919 was transferred to the biological laboratory at Weraroa. The headquarters of this laboratory were moved in. 1920 to Wellington, where, in 1924, Dr. Cunningham graduated B.Sc., and in 1926 M.Sc. For a thesis on groups of New Zealand fungi he was awarded the degree of D.Ph., in the following year, and in 1931 achieved the distinction of a double doctorate by securing the dcgiee of D.bc., for a thesis in book form on the rust fungi of New Zealand. He was gazetted a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1928 in recognition of his researches into fungi, and earlier this year won the coveted Hutton Modal, awarded once every three years, lor hi? original research into New Zealand botany. Dr. Cunningham in. 1921 represented [ the New Zealand Government at I the first Imperial Mycological Conference in London, also at the Imperial Botanical Conference. In 1929 he represented New Zealand at the second Imperial Mycological Conference in London, also at the Imperial Meteorological Conference, and in 1934 he attended at Canberra, as an expert adviser on behalf of the New Zealand Government, the conference : called by the Federal Government to discuss the question of the fruit embargo. Three books have been published by Dr. Cunningham. The first, entitled “Fungus Diseases of Fruit Trees,’’ appeared in 1925, and the second, “Dust Fungi of New Zealand,” in 193.1. His third on “Plant Prctection,” is now under the printing press. He is the author of no fewer than 106 scientific papers. Dr. Cun- ' n Ingham has occupied his present posi- ' tion since .1928, when the Plant Ko- , search Station, which is financed pointly by the Department of Scienti- ■ lie and Industrial Research and by the Department of Agriculture, was . established in Palmerston North. He leaves this centre in a fortnight’s time to spend a three months’ holiday in : Central Otago, and it is his present (

intention to go tn Australia, where he has been engaged to undertake a lecturing tour next year on behalf of scientific and fruitgrowers’ c-rgari.~a-tions in the Commonwealth. Latter he will probably proceed to England. QUESTION OF IMPROVEMENTS VOTE ALREADY ON ESTIMATES f Per Press Association. J WELLINGTON, Nov. 29. When Dr. G. H. Cunningham’s comments regarding the wretched conditions at the Plant Research Station were referred to him, Dr. C. J. Reakes, IDircctor-General of Agriculture, said he had no comment, except that the last Public Works estimates had contained a vote for improvements and that plans .were now under consideration. A vote of £SOO on account appears in the Public W’orks estimates for the current year.