Universities Boost Research

Thus the two great opposing camps adopted very different research policies. In the preceding years of peace the Allies did have small groups of defence scientists working, but contrary to general expectations it was not until the university men were brought in that real progress was made in the military laboratories and the Axis countries were soon speedily outstripped. Even in New Zealand it was that only too microscopic group of men with the most thorough university research experience who made the most spectacular contributions to our effort. After six years of war research these men have almost exhausted their scientific resources and must return to the old conditions, if they are to continue making worthwhile contributions.

It is becoming more and more evident that American research is tending to follow the name trend as German research did in 1936.

Already the Federal Government spends 500,000.000 dollars on research under the direction of the War and Navy Department while only 125,000,000 is spent on all other aspects of research. These figures exclude secret research amounting to hundreds of millions and most of which is of a military nature. (See J. R. Steelman in "Science and Public Policy.") The results of American secret research are practically closed to the Dominions. France who made such strides in atomic energy receives nothing while England who gave America radar, receives a mere trickle.

We cannot allow these American trends to come to New Zealand. Such conditions will stultify science and eventually render our scientists ineffective In solving the real problems of defence when and if they arise as it did with the German scientists. While our Government continues in keeping the university laboratories in an impoverished condition, the formation of a scientific defence corps cannot be taken seriously as a defence measure. It is merely a political palliative and at best a means of recruiting scientists to the war laboratories of America and Britain.

P.A.