ENGINEERING SCHOOL

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 70, 16 December 1937, Page 8

ENGINEERING SCHOOL

Plea For Establishment In

Wellington

N.Z. INSTITUTE’S SOCIAL

A strong plea for a Wellington school of engineering was made by Mr. V. G. Boivin when he proposed the toast of “The Engineering Industries” at last night’s social held by the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Institute of Marine and Power Engineers. “The engineering industries form an indispensable link between designing and operating engineers,” he said, and mentioned the advance that had been made in engineering in recent years as far as accuracy was concerned. , ~ “I think that there is a duty laid on every engineer to avoid noise as far as is consistent with reasonable efficiency. In New Zealand we have seen a tremendous advance in the secondary industries of Australia and it must follow, as a natural corollary, that. there has been a corresponding expansion in the engineering industry. “New Zealand has electric power, coal, and the best working climate in the world, and we should have the enterprise, capital, and the workmen to develop our secondary industries. There is a need for an engineering school in Wellington as a school forms the spiritual centre of a profession. Perhaps the fact that there is no engineering school here accounts for Auckland and Christchurch having stronger engineering industries than we have.” Mr. A. C. Mitchell, who replied to the toast, traced the 'development of engineering in New Zealand, which, he said, was sueti that engineers here could be proud of their stewardship. He had recently made a world tour and on it he had seen factories and machines that were a revelation. In almost every country he had formed the opinion that New Zealand engineers, given the same opportunities and facilities, were the equal of any in the world.

The toast of “The Shipping Industries” was proposed by Mr. W. Sonimerville, secretary of the institute. He stressed the vital nature of the merchant service to New Zealand as a trading country and paid a tribute to the pioneers of the shipping industries “It has been said- that the Empire’s safety lies with the Navy,, the ‘Senior Service,’ and if our safety lies with this important line of defence, then the economic security of the Empire lies with the merchant service.”

Mr. A. R. ’Dyson, manager of the Anchor Shipping Company, and Mr. F. Turner, head accountant of the Union Steam Ship Company, replied to this toast, and both speakers made references to the importance of the engineers in the efficient working of the merchant service.

Mr. D. McLaren proposed the toast of the Merchant Service Guild, which was replied to by Captain E. J. McClellan, and Mr. O. C. Mazengarb spoke to “Our Guests.” Engineer-Commander G. Lidgett replied to this latter toast. During the evening songs and 'humorous items were presented by the following: Messrs, W. W. Marshall, E. Isbester, Ross Williams, K. Rigby and Dan Hapa. Mr. E. Dean was the accompanist.