H—34a

years shows that approximately 50 per cent, of first-class honours graduates find employment overseas. Of all honours graduates, approximately 33 per cent, go overseas. For example, the following are the figures for honours graduates in chemistry from Canterbury University College since 1930 (M.Sc. and Honours in Chemistry (C.U.C.) ): —

It would thus appear that the post-graduate training made available through the various overseas scholarships makes it easier for our best science graduates to obtain positions outside New Zealand, and an investigation shows that about half of the holders of travelling scholarships do not return to New Zealand. This drain from the pool of scientific workers arises from various causes, and the same reasons which lead New Zealand workers to remain overseas restrain scientists outside New Zealand from applying for positions here. New Zealand students must at times proceed overseas to acquire training and experience in certain specialized fields, and there is no reason why the loss of New Zealand scientists in this way should cause alarm if suitable replacements were obtained. There are fields in New Zealand in which there are opportunities unexcelled elsewhere for original work and where facilities for work are first class, yet in spite of this there is a regular loss not only of average, but in particular of the superior talents in New-Zealand-trained scientists. Scientists in New Zealand, both New Zealanders and those from overseas, have been offered positions elsewhere—many have left the country already and others undoubtedly will unless means are found to retain them. The questions of losses of scientists through emigration and the factors affecting recruitment are discussed in the following sections, where we suggest methods of overcoming this problem. At this stage we wish to record our belief that the permanent loss of any large proportion of the best of our science graduates must affect the whole quality of scientific work, especially in research institutions, and that these men must be retained here (or men of similar calibre obtained elsewhere) if the standard of scientific endeavour in New Zealand is to be maintained even at the present level. VIII. FIELDS IN WHICH NO SCIENTISTS ARE AT PRESENT EMPLOYED OR FOR WHICH AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF SCIENTISTS IS AVAILABLE We gave consideration to the question of whether there are services and industries in which scientists are not at present employed, but in which they should or could be •employed. We invited experienced scientists to express their opinions in this matter. These opinions lacked unanimity ; some stated that no scope existed for the profitable engagement of additional scientists, while others felt that there were still many fields in which scientists could with advantage be engaged.

22

-— Total. In New Zealand. Overseas. Pirst-class honours Second-class honours Third-class honours Pass Pail 26 52 11 26 7 11=42 per cent. 41=79 per cent. 9=82 per cent. 21=81 per cent. 6=86 per cent. 15=58 per cent. 11=21 per cent. 2=18 per cent. 5=19 per cent. 1=14 per cent. 122 88=72 per cent. 34=28 per cent.