TRAINING MECHANICS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 920, 13 March 1930, Page 8

TRAINING MECHANICS

EXAMINATION BY A.A.A. OR GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE PROPOSED The suggestion that a conference be j called between Mr. G. J. Park, prinI cipal of the Seddon Memorial Tech- | nical College, Mr. Cousins, secretary of the Motor Traders’ Union, and Mr. Cadman, a member of tlie Apprenticeship Coipmittee, was made by the Council of the Auckland Automobile Association last evening, following a discussion on the setting of examinations for mechanics. It was thought that the result of the conference might be to urge the passing of legislation jto affect the registration of motor j mechanics. The discussion arose when a letter I was received from Mr. Park relative to the association's proposal to institute examinations for motor rae- | chanics. Mr. Park. for his board. I pointed out that the New Zealand j Government already conducted exanuj nations and that last year there had been live passes in the preliminary class, nine in the intermediate, and one in the final. The figures were not high, but there liad been 30 or 40 candidates and the numbers would increase. The examinations had first been held in 192 S and the syllabus was obtainable at the college. Mr. Park urged that a Government examination assured a consistent standard. Examinations conducted by the different automobile associations might result in there being different standards in different parts of the Dominion. The A.A.A. should consider whether its proposal to hold an examination should be allowed to go any further as the Government examination was in existence. A letter raising further objection to the A.A.A.’s proposal was received from the secretary of the Engineering Union and Apprenticeship Committee. The secretary of the association added that he had seen the secretary of the Motor Traders’ Union in Wellington and he considered the Government examination satisfactory. The chairman, Mr. A. Grayson, outlined the association’s scheme, which was mooted with the intention of classifying present-day mechanics so that association members would know they were trusting their cars to reliable men. It was proposed to examinations and give successful candidates diplomas or something of the sort to display as a guarantee of ability. There were men in the City who posed as competent mechanics without the ability to substantiate their claims. The examination waste be conducted with the Professor of Technical Engineering from the Auckland University College and the association’s technical adviser as examiners. The Government examinations were for young men training as mechanics in the main. Mr. F. G. Farrell held that the association should examine the Government syllabus before drawing up one of its own. “Compulsory registration would fill the bill and dispose of the whole thing,” declared Mr. A. Murray. Objections raised were that there were competent mechanics who would be unable to pass examinations, and that no motorist could be sure, even if a certificated mechanic were in the garage where he took his car, that that man would do his repairs. The suggestion of endeavouring to arrange a conference was put forward by Mr, G. Henning and adopted by the meeting.