ARE SURVEYORS SCARCE?

Taihape Daily Times, 2 August 1919, Page 6

ARE SURVEYORS SCARCE?

AN EXCUSE CH.-LLLENGED. Does the scarcity of land surveyors explain the delay in op(ening up Crown land for settlement’! The writer put this queetion to a. surveyor engaged in ru-.ral}work in a district where there are large tracts of Crown laid, ‘including many ‘thousands bf acres of the Urewera country. “It does ndt,” he said with emphasis. “It is claimed so, is it Irot'.3” “It is. And‘ it is untrue.” “If the Government advertised for a thousand surVeyors————?” “My dear Sir, there are any number of surveyors iivailable in New Zoaland, if the Government really wanted them. You must look elsewhere for your explanation. ’ ’ “Is there any reason why the surveyors must have had a Government training?” “Not the slightest.”

f‘For cutting up a block of, say. 10,000 acres into farms Bf 50 to 500 acres, is the ordinary free surveyor qu2.lified‘? ’ ’

“Quite. Otherwise he does 110*know his business.”

“With an instruction of that kind; how Would you proceed?”

“Lay out the roads." Everything hinges on the roads. You perhaps make several tries before you hit on youljj_‘_best plan, especially in bush coul‘l'try.A Then, in_ relation with the roads, "the subdividing is proceojded with. Now, let me tell you something. The most competent surveyors are not in Government employ. We do

not consider it an advantage. It is better for us to work free.” “On what terms would you survey Crown land?” “About sixpence per acre is necessary to make it pay us. Sometimes more. I could mention a block I would have surveyed at 6d. It cost the Govemment surveyors 3/6. “An exception, pel'llaps'.l” “Sir,” said this wizard of the ‘theodolite, “I make bold to say we can .-always do it at one—qual'ter of what it costs the Government—and better. ‘We are here in New Zealaud, if the Govel'nnlen't. -wants us. Yes, you must look elsewhere for your explanation. That excuse is withoui; foundation.”——Auekland Star.