MR. A. R. HISLOP AND ENGINEERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 334, 22 October 1908, Page 8

MR. A. R. HISLOP AND ENGINEERS.

Sir,—While reading through the columns of your paper of Friday, October 16, I camo across an item under the heading of "Local and General," where Mr/A. R. Hislop; general 'secretary of the Institute ' of , Marine Engineers, 'is making ah-organising tour .of . the Dominion for the: purpose of (I take it) • strengthening the above-named institute, so, • as to protect' those who have served'the required apprenticeship,to the engineering profession. Well, sir, 1 would be exceedingly . obliged if y.ou would , grant me the favour of a few lines on thd subject. I take it, sir, according to the way the local reads, that he intends to, or professes, to, be on an.organising tour on behalf of those 5000 trained . engineers that he mentioned as being assailed by the issuing of--certificates to ; Now, sir, there is;a.certain amount • of ignorance and assumption in- this assertion, for if Mr. Hislop was a practical man , ; in that particular pi ofession, he ought to know that the Inspection' of Machinery Act governs all land engines and their drivers, while the Shipping and Seamens' Act is ap--plicable to marine and engineers,. so you-will 6ee at a glance that it is the intention' of this invader to endeavour to assail rather than .be < assailed. ■ , , . Then again, he puts great strain on the term' of apprenticeship.; \Ve will take it that they serve, or fill in this time: how many of them are worth the title of engineer on-com-pletion of term, so as to be able to take charge of machinery? Not many, as their training is fitting, and having no practice in the running of engines, 'they have no practical experience in the driving and management of an engino generally. Now, sir, he inakes special mention of the interests of employers. Speaking of the engine-drivers, they are the most-practical of the two, and will study the interests of employers by being the most economical, that is as far as my experience goes. 'Mr. Hislop further states that this is the first time in tho history of the institute (a matter .of twenty-eight years) that it has taken to the field in the interests of members and their employers. ' Now, sir, the question is: Who are- their employers? I take it that it is the'various shipping-com-panies that'are) according to their title: Institute of Marine Engineers. My belief is that the'trip can be of no service either to the engineers or to their employers. Hoping some abler engine-driver with an abler pen than mine will take the matter up. —I am, etc., ENGINE-DRIVER. October 21.