Training of Students as Engineers.

Chronicle (Levin), 3 June 1948, Page 6

Training of Students as Engineers.

Press Association}

(Per

WELLINGTOj-n June 1. The Minister of Education, Mr. MuCombs, announeed today tliat it lnpl been decided to set up a consuitative commktee in order 'to consider .and make recommeudations to the Goveynment about the training of eugineers. This decisioii was nrade as a xesuit.pf reeent representations. made .to the Prinie -Minister-' by 'a combihed deputation from the ProfessiOnal ■Engineel•s, Association and Kew Zealahid Insiitute of -Engineers. The;c'Onimitt'ee chdinban will be Mr. E. Caradusy until feiSehtly chief inspector of post prinuiry schodis and chairman of' the committee 'which has just reported on national tra'des.' certilicates. There ' will nlso be tli'e following repiesfciitatives:— Mr. ' W." G. Morrison, consuiting engineei',' Wellington; Mr. G. y. J. Read, N.Z*. llailways Engineers ' Kegistration Board; ' Mr! F, T. M. Ivissel, until recently general manager of the IState Hydro-Electric Department; Mr. L. Hume, chief de signing engineer, Public Wor.ks Department; Prof. T. D. J. Leech, dean. of the faculty of engineering at Auckland University College; Prof. G. G. Calvert, dean oi" the faculty of engineering at Canterbury University College; Mr. E. N. Hogben, principal of Wellington College; Mr. M. A. Bull, principal ■ of the Timaru Boy's High Bchoolj Mr. A. MeFadyen, principal of the Hutt Valley Memorial Technical College; Mr. " J. Bukolslci, head of the engineering department of the Wellington Technical College; Mr. H. Henderson,' ehief inspector of post-prihiary schools; Mr. A. R. Ilynes, senior inspector of post-prini-ary schools. ' The order of ref erenc'd of •'tli'e coihmittee will be: — (1) What are the most satisfaetory courses to be undertalcen a.t the postprimary stage, by pr.ospective eiitrants to the engineering profession? (2) Is the present standard of ehtrants to degree and diploma courses in engineering, satisfaetory? (3) To what extent, if any, should instruction in professional engineering 1 subjects be provided in technical 1 schools? ! (1) Are presefit facilities (staffing, - aceonnnodation and equipuient) at the University Colleges or at Technical iSehoois, suflicient for the numbers of students offering? (5) If the answer to (4) is in the negative, what improvements are required? ' ((5) What instructional courses in engineering subjects should be provided by the Technical ' Correspdhdence I beliool? ' " ' . . ' ' (7) What weaknesSes, ' if-: ahy, ' ebdst in ' the . pfeseiit Stahdard ' of instruction available at any stageT1'- ,l: ; " ■ ' ■ It ivill be witKin thje! ' or d6'r of fpference to ihquire irito and 'fiiake a hee'om- ! meudation with iegard to any 'other^ rnafter not listed above, which tlie com-: mittee consi.ders relevant to tlie inquiry. -

Most meetings of the committee will be held in Wellington, but '-an -oceasion-lii al meeting may be necessary elsewhere.jj The Minister said the committee \ypuldbe ready to receive. representations: either in writing or in person, from any'; interested . organisations. whiCjh. • may/. wisli to put their v-iews":b.e±'ore it.. Anyf such organisation sliojjld writ^ ±0 thb i ^bairmjr^, PCo^«lt«t|^e -,01^ TrainiVg of Engineers, care ' of theDiroctor of ,iMu(latiqnU| Education De-ij partment, Wmiiifgto^ C.l. x