SHORTAGE OF ENGINEERS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27591, 23 February 1955, Page 12

SHORTAGE OF ENGINEERS

STATE CRITICISED BY ASSOCIATION

PRESIDENT’S REMARKS AT ANNUAL MEETING

“For years we have had a shortage of professional engineers,” said the retiring president of the Professional Engineers’ Association of New Zealand (Mr J. K. Hooker) in his address at the annual meeting of the association last evening. ‘‘The association has in the past pointed this out to the Government and has made recommendations, which have not been put into effect,” he said. ‘‘ln 1950 the association representatives interviewed the Minister of Works (Mr Goosman), and the following points were emphasised: (1) That work controlled by engineers is of a community nature, and involves at least one-seventh of the gross national expenditure. (2) That variation in salary policy between employing authorities has led to unnecessary transfers and maldistribution of services offering. (3) That the profession is short of one engineer for every four employed. (4) That this serious defect will not be rectified until remuneration rewards are such as to make the profession attractive. “Since that date salaries have increased, but the progress has been much less than is satisfactory, and I say emphatically that this country cannot afford to let conditions stay as they are. “The answer that increases in salaries cannot be aff6rded is of little moment when the true perspective is attained. The hard fact is that New Zealand cannot afford to let the present unsatisfactory position go on. Problem for Government “We must remember that the Government must in its engineering services and requirements cut its coat according to its cloth. It is possible that they may not accept our suggestions on salary improvement in State service because of the added costs entailed. It is also possible that they are concerned, because of the country’s finances, at the costs of engineering projects. “The point here is that the people are looking to the Government to keep the conditions of living in the Dominion reasonably in line with those in the mother country. This, I think, must be included by the Prime Minister in those things which caused him concern when he reviewed the results of the last election. “We professional engineers are the people who can get behind our Government in providing necessary modern facilities,’’ Mr Hooker said. Sir Joseph Ward’s Comment “It is quite evident to all that there is a shortage of professional engineers, as there is an ever-increasing demand for additional engineering activity and the supply of recruits available has been a diminishing factor,” said Sir Joseph Ward in his opening address at the meeting. “Professional engineering must be made a real attraction to the youth of New Zealand,” Sir Joseph Ward continued. “It must provide conditions that will attract young men of calibre and sustain their interest. “It is possible that the standard of living in a country is roughly equivalent to the number of engineers in the population, and there are just four times as many engineers per million people in the United States as in New Zealand.

“It is a tragedy in this Dominion that the services of overseas engineering firms are continually being enlisted,” said Sir Joseph Ward. “Surely New Zealand can supply the country’s needs. Enlisting the services of overseas firms makes for the speeding-up of projects at additional cost, and there is a loss of valuable experience to engineers in this country. “It is your task to emphasise these things, as I am sure that you can and will secure the goodwill of thinking people in the community by drawing attention to the necessity for better conditions and a higher professional status,” he said.