The study is under the direction of Professor E. Reaglehole, and Mr. Ritchie has conducted the major field work during the past two years.

Those in the team during the vacation were Mr. Michael Edwards, Miss Margaret Earle Mr. W. A. Martin, and Miss Jane Beaglehole. All have studied social psychology at VUC. Much of the information collected will be used in theses, hut it will be correlated and made available to those who plan area developments such as Murupara both here and over-seas.

Mr. Edwards is primarily interested in the growth of the new town of Murupara, which includes Canadians as well as New Zealanders, both Maori and pakeha. Miss Beaglehole, Miss Earle and Mr. Martin are studying aspects of child development.

Mr. Ritchie emphasised the value of the research from several points of view. The practical aspect, he said, was important.

New towns are now a common feature of national and international development. Often their "growing pains" create social problems, feelings of dissatisfaction, and in some casts they take a very long time to become established as operating communities.

The findings of the VUC group's research will be available to those who plan such developments both here and overseas.

"In this way Murapara, though it may seem just a small bush town, may be important to the success of the programmes of development such as those being conducted by the South Pacific Commission and by the United Nations," said Mr. Ritchie.

"From another point of view, much closer to home, it is obvious to anyone who visits the town that the more professional advice social scientists can give on the development of Murupara itself the sooner the present confusion and dissatisfaction in the are a will be relieved."

Important for Students

The field study is also important in the completing of training of research workers in social science.

Unlike most University studies, said Mr. Ritchie, a training in human relations cannot be completed in study or laboratory.

The students must go out and meet the people, see the problems first-hand from the point of view of the people, then use their more academic training to understand the problems involved, and find ways out of them.

The research programme is financed by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and administered by the University of New Zealand.