Draughtsmen To Confer In Christchurch

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30907, 13 November 1965, Page 28

Draughtsmen To Confer In Christchurch

Next Thursday the twentyfirst annual conference of the Dominion council of the Institute of Draughtsmen will open in Christchurch. It will be opened by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr G. Manning). On Monday there will be displays of draughting in nine Christchurch stores. The Institute of Draughtsmen was formed in 1955, by enlarging the scope of the Institute of Survey Draughtsmen, which was founded in 1945 but catered for only one division of the profession. The institute now comprises five divisions: architectural, civil and structural, electrical and telecommunications, mechanical, and survey. The Dominion council of the institute comprises elected representatives from the local branches, and meets at least annually. There are 17 branches with 1600 members The objects of the institute are to aid the development of the draughting profession, to maintain the rights, privileges and status of members, and to promote means of expressing technical and other matters of interest to members. It is felt the notential membership of the institute is about 3000, because the increased demand for technical services in industry is resulting in an increase in the number of draughtsmen employed. Through the institute, draughtsmen can be made more aware of new drawing techniques and materials, of the general draughting standards throughout the country, and of conditions in other industries The institute feels its future membership comes from the secondary schools, and to help students decide on a -areer, talks, exhibition and inspections of draughting establishments are arranged. One branch has established a certificate of merit prize for annual award to the student •raining highest marks in School Certificate technical drawing in the district. A private firm in Palmerston North has made two arizes available for successful draughting students, and A.M.L. Armstrong Award is provided from money given by a draughtsman, Mr A. M. L. Armstrong, for encouraging junior draughtsmen and recognising their success in examination. Displays Monday’s displays will be held in Ballantynes, Beaths, Ashby Berghs, the Canterbury

Savings Bank, Andrew Lees, Whitcombe and Tombs, International Cameras, Dominion Motors, and Vance Vivian. The displays at Andrew Lees and Dominion Motors will be staffed, and there will be a staffed draughting room in the State Services Commission suite on the eighth floor of the Government Life building. After the official opening of the conference there will be a business conference. The 50 delegates will go to the Sign of the Takahe for lunch. After lunch they will visit the Sugarloaf television transmitter and the Lyttelton tunnel road administration building. There will be business sessions throughout the afternoon, and the next day. On Thursday evening a social and dance will be held.