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Until there is an acceptable international code of practice for the carriage and handling of dangerous goods and explosives in ships, the current precautions officially recognized in the United Kingdom will continue to provide a useful guide for New Zealand shipowners, harbour authorities, and ship Surveyors. EXAMINATION OF LAND ENGINEERS, ENGINE-DRIVERS, CABLE-TRAM DRIVERS, AND ELECTRIC-TRAM DRIVERS Examinations for certificates issued under the Inspection of Machinery Act, 1928, were conducted at intervals during the year by Inspectors of Machinery throughout the country. For the year ended 31st March, 1950, the candidates who presented themselvesfor examination totalled 532 ; of these, 445 passed and 87 failed, as compared with 520 successful candidates and 106 failures of the previous year. In addition to the 445 certificates issued in 1949-50 to successful candidates 85 certificates were issued as replacements, &c, under the provision of sections 53, 59, and 62 of the Inspection of Machinery Act, 1928. An analysis of the certificates issued during the year, with the correspondizig figures for 1948-49, is given hereunder : Class. 1949-50. 1948-49. Service— First class engine driver . . .. .. 3 6 Competency — Extra first class stationary engineer . . .. 2 First class engine driver .. .. 38 63 Second class engine driver .. . . .. 303 289 Locomotive and traction . . . . 50 69 Locomotive engine driver ..... 10 8 Traction engine driver . . .. .. 6 7 Electric tram driver .. .. 98 175 Electric tram driver (one man car) .. 8 8 Cable tram driver . . . . . . 7 13 Steam winding engine driver .. 1 1 Electric winding engine driver . . . . 4 1 530 640 Appended to this report is a statement of the number of candidates examined at each examination centre for the year ended 31st March, 1950, showing the number of successful and unsuccessful candidates. A few special examinations were granted, but the holding of special examinations is not encouraged as it is considered that the regular examinations are of sufficient frequency, and, except in very exceptional circumstances, candidates are expected to attend the scheduled examinations. The shortage of certificated engine drivers for stationary steam plants is still as it has been in previous years for the past decade. Where a steam plant would be shut down for lack of a certificated engine driver the Department, on the report and recommendation of an Inspector of Machinery, authorizes a temporary permit for an uncertificated person to take charge of the steam plant. NEW ZEALAND STANDARDS INSTITUTE The Marine Department has again been actively associated with the New Zealand Standards Institute in connection with the Mechanical Engineering Divisional Committee and the Executive Committee.

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