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NEW DIRECTOR FOR LUCa S HEIGHTS RESEARCH  . ESTABLISHMENT " Statement by the Minister for National Development, Senator the Hon. W.H. Spooner, M.M.

Dr, George Clifford James DALTON, B.E. , B,Sc., D.Phil.,

M.I.M.E, s  has been appointed Director of the Lucas Heights

Research Establishment of the Atomic Energy Commission.

This was announced to-day by the Minister for National

Development, Senator Spooner.

Dr, Da LTON was formerly the Commission’s Chief Engineer

and Deputy Chief Scientist.

Senator Spooner said that he was a distinguished scientist,

who had taken part in the peaceful development of atomicÂ· energy

from the earliest stages. Â·

From 1947 to 1949 he was in charge of the Fast Reactor Group

of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. This group carried

out the early scientific work which led to the decision to construct

the fast breeder reactor at Dounreay in the United Kingdom.

Senator Spooner added that Dr, DALTON had been appointed

when the decision to set up the Lucas Heights Research Establishment

was originally made. He had helped to shape the Australian research

programme from the beginning, and was thoroughly conversant with

all its aspects.

In 1956, as a member of the Commission's staff, he was invited

by the Dutch authorities to advise them on technical aspects of

their atomic energy research programme.

Dr. DALTON was born at Te ^wamutu-, New Zealand, in 1916 and

was a Rhodes Scholar in 1936. 'After completing his course at

Oxford, he was engaged in radar research in the Royal ^ir Force.

,it the end of the- war he took the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

at Oxford, and then went to Harwell.

From 1949 to 1955, he was Professor of Mechaulc&l Engineering’

at Auckland University and from 1950 he was DeaÂ»n of the Faculty.

He was also a member of Auckland University College Council, and  jf the New Zealand Defence Scientific Advisory Council,

Dr, Da LTON joined the staff of the Australian Atomic Energy

Commission in 1955 as Chief Engineer and Deputy Chief Scientist.

He worked at Harwell with the Commission's scientific team, before

coming to Lucas Heights, where, as Director, he is now in charge

of the research programme.

SYDNEY .

February 25, I960

