OUR OWN ENGINEERS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 10, 11 July 1936, Page 8

OUR OWN ENGINEERS

(To the Editor.}

Sir, —In a recent issue you give prominence to a statement by the Minister of Railways to the effect that the work of eliminating level' crossings is being retarded by the scarcity of qualified designers.

Apparently the Minister is unaware that on the staff of at least one large Government Department there is a large number of fully qualified civil engineers who are corporate members of the Institution of Civil Engineers (London), a qualification recognised the wprld over. These young men are, at present earning less than a tradesman's wage and advancement is blocked by the statement that there are no positions available. This is surely a paradox. . .. ■

Ne\v Zealand-trained engineers stand high in the estimation of overseas authorities and the majority of those who have left their native shores have distinguished .. themselves. Truly "a prophet, hath honour save in his owncountry." It speaks ill of New Zealand that her sons must seek recognition in other lands. Perhaps Mr. Sullivan will make further inquiries before any steps are taken to import technical men.—l am, dtc,

CHARTERED CIVIL ENGINEER.

PRIVATE HOTELS

(To the Editor.)

.; Sir,—Do-private hotels come under the Shops and Offices or do they come under the Public Hotel and Restaurant Award?:, I-should like to know, as there has been very little about private hotels,in your paper.— I am, etc.,. ; ;V.

HOTEL WORKER.

[There is no private hotel employees award- operating at present and consequently wages and conditions for assistants are governed by the Shops and Offices Act. but it is understood that steps are being taken to obtain an award governing private hotels.]

STAFFING THE MUSEUM

fTo the Editor.)

Sir,—Of all the categories of returned, soldiers entitled to be well served by a "Nation that Remembers," there is ,none more deserving of consideration than the/"Limbies." The' loss of an arm or a leg cannot be compensated with money when that loss has been incurred in the service of the State in its hour of need. The State ha"s done its ; best,, pro virili parte, let us say, but other groups of the community have on occasions the opportunity of showing their appreciation of the disabilities under which these "winged" ex-soldiers suffer. The statement \ that nothing definite has been forthcoming regarding the staffing of the National Gallery and Museum (in "The Post" of July 9) causes one to wonder why there should be any hesitation in the matter. '

I have a pair of German field glasses, a souvenir of the 1916 Somme, and a German automatic which I should like to present to the Museum, if they are acceptable, but it would be very gratifying to be able to think that in the noble edifice in which they reposed the services of the most deserving class of disabled soldiers were being used. Might I respectfully ask the Board of Trustees, as a citizensoldier, and in the. interests of some of my less fortunate "cobbers," for a, public pronouncement on the board's attitude in the matter? The facility of making: use of your • valuable columns for this purpose will be appreciated by those On whose behalf as a class I write, unauthorised, be it said.—l am, etc..

N. A. FODEN.