Britain ready to join in Cape astronomy work

Mrs Margaret Thatcher, Minister of Education and Science, said today that Britain welcomed the opportunity to cooperate with South Africa in the operation of the new astronomical observatory in Sutherland, Cape Province, where she attended the opening ceremony today.

Such cooperation typified a spirit which pervaded the scientific world, she said, and was also a tribute to the politicians who were prepared to give such a large slice of their budget to fundamental research.

Mr Vorster, the South African Prime Minister, who performed the opening ceremony, said that his Government was most anxious to encourage overseas astronomers to work at the new observatory.