SURVEYORS BILL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 7, 8 July 1938, Page 9

SURVEYORS BILL

ESTABLISHMENT OF

INSTITUTE

COMPULSORY MEMBERSHIP

The procedure for the establishment of a New Zealand Institute of Surveyors is outlined in the Surveyors Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives tqday and read a first time. The Bill also provides for the establishment of a Survey Board consisting of the Sur-veyor-General, as chairman, and four surveyors appointed by the Minister, two of whom shall be appointed on the recommendation of the institute.

The Bill lays it down that the institute shall be a corporate body, and every surveyor holding an annual practising certificate is to become a member of the institute, whether or not he applies for membership.

The council of the institute shall consist of a president, vice-president, and not fewer than seven other members, of whom one shall be a member of the institute appointed by the SurveyorGeneral prior to each annual meeting. The others are to be appointed by ballot from among the members.

A, section of-the Bill Sefines the procedure and regulations governing the registration of surveyors. It is also stipulated that surveyors are to have annual practising certificates, and that unregistered persons may not act as surveyors. There is a definition of the practice of surveying, and the disciplinary powers of the board are also defined. The board is empowered, for instance, to impose a penalty not exceeding £50 or suspend a surveyor from practice for a period not exceeding twelve months. Appeals' against any decision of the board may be heard by a Board of Appeal, consisting of a Magistrate and two assessors. The Bill repeals , the Surveyors In- j stitute Act, 1908, the Surveyors Institute Amendment Act, 1928, the Surveyors Registration Act, 1928, and* section 177 of the Land Transfer Act 1915. CONSOLIDATING MEASURE. The Bill was mainly a consolidating measure, said the Minister of Lands (the Hon. F. Langstone). One of the main provisions was that registered surveyors were to becdme members of the Surveyors' Institute. The Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes (National, Hurunui): Compulsory unionism?

The Minister: Oh, no. Just the same as lawyers and accountants have. An Act was passed by the previous Government compelling accountants to join a certain society, otherwise they were not allowed to practise.

The Bill would provide better control of surveyors. If any mistake was made in surveying the Government had to pay compensation.

The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates* (National, Kaipara): Will the effect of the Bill in any way increase the cost of surveying?

Mr. W. J. Poison (National, Stratford): It must.

The Minister replied that he did not thins, the cost would be increased. If surveys were to be more careful, so much the better.

Mr. Poison suggested that the Minister should give consideration to the question of surveying costs in the cutting up of estates. The cost was often prohibitive.

The Minister said that care would be taken to y see that the ' scale of charges was reasonable. It would have to be approved by the Minister.