Careers in Chemistry

In this address to the Chemical Society Professor Slater introduced speakers.

Dr. Dixon, Deputy Director of the Soil Bureau, described opportunities in Government Departments for chemists. Allowing for 25 per cent, wastage and 5 per cent, natural expansion about 15 new chemists are needed yearly. The minimum qualification is M.Sc. (2nd class honours) with starting salary at about £900 increasing to £1120. Salary then depends on ability as assessed by the directors, i.e. your position on what is popularly called the "Tennis Ladder." Jobs available in Agriculture, the D.S.I.R. and the Patent Office 'were described. On research, a large degree of freedom to work on any project was allowed, provided results were produced. The idea that opportunities to do research in government departments is circumscribed was wrong. He asserted that there was less tyranny here than at a University.

Mr Butchers (teacher from H.V.H.S.) and Mr Nelson (Recruitment Officer for Dept. of Education) spoke of opportunities in teaching. Mr Butchers stated that in dealing with people, teaching involved a large variety of situations, activities and responses.

Contrary to general belief, the standard at science teaching is uniform throughout New Zealand.

Mr Addis-Smith, Manager of a Consulting Chemists firm, spoke of the chemist in industry. Half New Zealand's chemists are employed in industry concerned with native products (the meat and dairy industries, agriculture in general, breweries, forest products, fuel, drugs and metallurgy). Branches of Overseas firms had established laboratories here comparable to those overseas but little basic research was done in New Zealand. Most New Zealand laboratories were small—one or two chemists and four or five technicians—but, said Mr Addis-Smith, the experience of small laboratories should not be sneered at—personal relations count very much. For a scientist going into industry it is more important to keep a clear mind than to be cluttered up with a lot of book knowledge.

Mr Addis-Smith concluded: "A chemist who proves a technique, is worth his weight in lead; one who makes the technique work, is worth his weight in silver; one who proves the technique is unnecessary, is worth his weight in gold."

—G.J.N.