Need For Broad View, Engineers Told

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32221, 13 February 1970, Page 5

Need For Broad View, Engineers Told

(N.Z. Press Association/ DUNEDIN, February 10. [ The importance of wider, '[ less-obvious costs and benefits, which society might inherit j as a result of development was now appreciated, the Minister of Transport (Mr Gordon) told the annual conference of the New Zealand Institution of Engineers in [ Dunedin yesterday. He said the Lake Manapouri issue was the most topical example of the wider!; view. Specialists generally; had come to realise the enormous responsibilities they bore towards their society. “There has been an awakening of the idea that complex problems demand complex answers, that the cut-and-dried solution is no 'longer applicable, and that [often the specialist must look outside his own particular field and adopt a broader [viewpoint,” he said. The most topical and classical example of the need for the broad view was the, national problem of Manapouri. he said “The Government has! many reports available, in-i eluding some unquestionable! engineering reports dealing

.with the technical factors | involved in the generation of electricity and to a lesser extent the effects of the clearing on the lake shoreline,” ‘he said. “Nonetheless, at this stage it is going to require a massive effort to collate these technical reports with the social, tourist and conserva[tion problems raised by the public.” Mr Gordon said the need for thorough study of major ;transport investments ' had’ never been more urgent. Ini the past these investments had been undertaken with i little real study in depth of i the likely costs or benefits, 1 or of the possible alternatives or consequences. The country was now welt equipped to make a study in ■depth. —