Careers For Youth

Evening Star, Issue 19634, 13 August 1927, Page 19

Careers For Youth

The Surveying Profession i Qualifications, Training, and Opportunities A Surveyor’s Ideas What shall we do with our boys? To what career should they be directed? This is a problem that is of paramount interest to all parents, and with a view to giving some idea of tho prospects, opportunities, and qualifications necessary to enter various professions, it is tbo intention of the ‘Evening Star ’ to publish a series of articles dealing with tho subject, in the following article Mr H. L. Paterson, M.N.Z.1.5., who is an elected member of tbo Council of the Institute of Surveyors, deals with tbo surveying profession, qualifications required by prospective surveyors, their training and opportunities.

In writing this article it is not my intention to bolster up my profession or to state what it is not; but, if possible, to give the youth of to-day who contemplates the choice of a profession some assistance in his difficult and puzzling task. To give such advice it is not necessary to paint a profession in glowing colors to attract entrants, leather should the pros and cons be equally set forth, and the choice bo left to the individual. It is useless to deny that each member of every profession and every trade lias at some time or another envied the other man bis calling, either for the reason of health, wealth, freedom honor, or glamor. The unattainable other man’s profession is always attractive: but, if attained, is found to have disadvantages and thorns not recognised or observed by the outsider. Therefore, my advice to the hoy is—- “ Having made your choice, let your motto be ‘Hero goes,’ and aim high, not to envy your neighbor’s profession, but to be an honor to your own.” SCHOOL HAY INDICATIONS. It might reasonably bo asked by what qualifications a youth at the High School, desirous of becoming n surveyor, would bo recognised, and Ibis is probably a very necessary preliminary. He should ho 20 per cent, above the class average in mathematics 'and a quick, clear thinker. Science should bo a strong subject. He should bo quickly observant in noting details, and a neat draughtsman. His eyesight should bo very good, and be must not suffer from any deformity or disease which would a fleet Ids physical strength and endurance. EDUCATIONAL PRELI MIN ARY. Having made his decision, and feeling qualified concerning the foregoing standard, it is now necessary to pass the matriculation and teachers’ “ C ” mathematics or engineering preliminary examinations. Until quite recently, students' were articled without having first completed their preliminary examinations, and consequently were severely handicapped in their studies for the finals. The Council of the Surveyors’ Institute lias now recommended the New Zealand Hoard of Examiners to require that all applicants shall pass the entrance examination before being registered as articled cadets. ARTICLED CADET. His third step is to secure employment as a cadet in a practicing surveyor’s office, or articled to a licensed surveyor in a municipal or Government surveying and engineex'ing department. Tho period of service as a cadet is four years, two and a-half of which must bo spent in tho field. Tho question of premium is one which is left entirely to the discretion of the employer, but the practice of requiring one is not recognised by tho institute, and is seldom demanded. The rate of remuneration as approved by tho Institute is as follows:—First year, £4O per annum,' second year, £oo per annum; third year, £(j;j per annum; fourth year, £IOO per annum. It will ho recognised from this that the cadet is .more or less a, charge on the master surveyor. He is given a small remuneration more or less as pocket .money, but tbo master must look on his cadet as a, pupil whom lie should teach and train to tho best of bis ability. Considerable time is thus wasted by the master; but knowledge is gained by tho cadet. The practice in Now Zealand is to train the boy in practical work; but ho must arrange for his own classes in theory. It is quite possible for a cadet to prepare for examinations by reading, together with a short series of demonstrations of the practical application of theory. WHAT SURVEYING MEANS. For tho information of the parent and youth who know little of the science of surveying, and yet arc attracted by its possibilities, it may be good policy to onmnerato some of the uses of the profession and its branches. “ Surveying is the technical term for the art of determining the position of prominent points and other objects for the purpose of making therefrom a graphic representation of the area, surveyed.” (Enc. Brit.). This may moan the fixing of the boundaries of a quarter-acre town section or tho sea coast of a continent; the heights of a range of mountains or the depth and workings of a coal mine; the reefs and shoals of a sea-bord, or tho latitude and longitude of Timbuctoo; of the North Polo or the South; wherever trails arc unmapped, there the surveyor must go. Surveying is essentially a combination of the linear and angular measurements. Here we disclose our claim to antiquity. The Romans gave us the first rude attempt at Hie representation of natural and artificial features on a ground plan based on actual measurements. Tho Greeks surveyed their shipping routes by means pif log lines three centuries me., and it may bo interred measureadapted tin's form of linear measurement to land surveys, whilst the Chinese knew of the magnetic compass 1,C()(J it. a. Instruments adapted for surveying purposes were in use centuries n.c., and the art of surveying may be claimed to be a development yet more ancient geometrical science. CLASSIFICATION OF SURVEYS. Surveying may be classified under the following' heads:—(l) Geodetic triangnlation; (2) levelling; (3) topographical surveying; (4) geographical; (5) traversing and fiscal or revenue surveys; (0) nautical surveys, it is not my intention to deal at length with any ol these headings more than to indicate whether they require to be studied or rot. Geodesy deals wjtli the dimensions and figure of the earth, and is one. of the subjects in the surveyor’s examination. This subject is really a special study, and cannot bo taught in everyday practice. It is based very largely on geometry and trigonometry. Levelling is also a compulsory subject, but will not be found difficult, as it is used’ in ordinary practice. Proficiency in topographical and geographical surveying is acquired by practice and obseration. They are not difficult. Under the fifth heading comes the ordinary survey work encountered in

everyday practice, siicli as road, subdivision, mining, and railway surveys. As all this work comes within the province of the practising surveyor, a cadet should have no difficulty in mastering it. Nautical surveys are carried out by tlio Naval Departments, and do not come witlup the land surveyor’s scope. SCOPE OE PRACTICE.

Surveying offers great prospects for the youth who aims high. For the ordinary boy a city practice may he the summit of his hopes, hut there is a much wider field for the youth with adventure in Ids heart, -it the present time great developments arc expected from the new invention of aerial photography. Topographical surveys have long been well-known adjuncts to military operations. All other_ classes of land surveying—i.c., geodetic triangulation, levelling, and _ large-scale surveying—now take- their part in modern scientific warfare. Tho_ special study of a combination of triangulation and aerial photography would bring within tho student’s reach a field of adventure realised by few. The, real pioneer surveyor is in demand in many of the Pacific Stales, arid New Zealand-trained surveyors "fill tho bill.” They are to bo found in Australia, Africa, Federated Malay States, Samoa, and Fiji, and wherever they go the traditions of the profession are worthily upheld. Surveying is essentially pioneering work. Great tracts of unknown bush, swamp, plain, and mountain must bo explored and roaded, and far in advance ol the armies of the road and railway constructors will be found the nauow trail of the surveyor. Coming down to everyday practice, however, tho surveyor has a very wide field for work. His _ services are required for the subdivision ol land and road designing and construction with necessary sewerage provision. ilns probably constitutes a very large proportion of his ’practice, and in these days of laws and yet more laws requires a wide knowledge of laws relating thereto. The surveyor must be prepared to advise his client as to the requirements of local bodies and Government departments, and as these arc not uncommonly at variance the task is not an easy , ope. .However, when it is realised that they arc all working with ono end in view—-vm., tno beautifying of our cities and growingsuburbs—the surveyor gladly acts the part of buffer between client and loca authority (commercialisation and tostlieticrsm), inxl charges it up to po>tori tv. The reproducing of boundaries for fencing and buildings, levels and quantities of earthworks and iouiulations, and fixing by survey and plan tho details of street accidents arc ordinary routine. Tile latter is an increasingly _ nocossarv precaution of which every litigant in these, days of the swiitly-moving motor traffic should avail himself, and, whilst on this subject, it •may bo ol help to interested readers _ who may ( some day find themselves in trouble, to know that, if in any doubt as to wliu is to blame,.they should immedi-, ately ring for their surveyor to inspect and measure details at the scene of tho accident before tyre tracks, etc., are obliterated. The lack of such evidence may easily lose the case and result in serious monetary loss. Beyond the city boundaries _ variety characterises the work, which includes farm surveys, gold-mining investigations (principally on tho surface in Otago), coal mine surveys, surveying of power stations, and sources of supply, water races, irrigation areas, railways, and swamp drainage systems, etc. DIFFICULTIES. Like .many other professions, surveying also has its hardships and drawbacks. Tito student must study during his practical training, and should be prepared to sit for his examinations at the termination of his cadetship. This necessarily entails long hours of study at the end of each day’s toil, and presents a very real difficulty to many cadets. During tho spring, summer, and autumn extended periods may bo spent under canvas far from the classrooms of college or university, presenting a serious handicap to the student. Field practice demands several hours each night on calculations for checking the day’s work or preparing for tho following day. ft will be realised that the cadet does not feel in a humor for further study, being tired and fagged both physically and mentally. Lack of numerical strength also seriously handicaps our students, as they arc not sufficient in numbers to justify special university classes. Some subjects may be taken in the'engineering, mining, and science curriculum, whilst others must be self-taught or taught by a private coach. Certain correspondence schools claim to be qualified to teach some of the subjects, but the writer’s experience through some of his cadets, is that this form of teaching is of a most primary nature and wholly insufficient to^ enable a. candidate to obtain a pass. Negotiations with the Australian States are now in progress to require of candidates a university diploma in surveying which, together with a practical examination and a reduced period of cadetship, would entitle him to registration. It is recognised that in this, as in other professions, contact with university life and influence is a very valuable" asset, not only to the individual but to the profession as a body. Arrangements have practically been completed for tho conducting of special university classes in Auckland and Christchurch, and it is desired that Dunedin will do likewise. It will he admitted that the subjects do not present any very great difficulties, but the means of acquiring the knowledge docs. EXAMINATION. Naturally'tho cadet’s great objective is To pass tho prescribed examination, ■which is held in Wellington. Each candidate must personally _ appear before tho board to satisfy it as to his qualifications in regard to period of field practice and experience, entrance examinations, specimen plans, and character. Having satisfied the board in these respects, he is permitted to present himself for practical and oral

tests and written papers. Briefly, these are summarised as follows: Oral and practical; Practical economy, levelling, instruments, nets relating to surveying, and regulations. Written: Astronomy (field), geology, computations (2), engineering surveys, levelling and earthworks, principles and practice of surveying, physics, geology, forestry (elements of), town planning, and drawing. AN EXACT SCIENCE. It lias often been said that surveying is the most ■honest profession of all, as it is an exact science. The surveyor cannot take sides, and even if lus investigations go against his client lie must disclose that fact. A plan produced over an authorised surveyor’s .signature should hear any scrutiny, and it must ho tho aim mf the master surveyor to inculcate in his cadet that integrity and honesty of conduct which have characterised the profession in the past. HEALTHY OCCUPATION. It will ho seen from tho loregoing that Dio surveyor’s life is not a monotonous ono and may lie justly cl aimed to be one of the healthiest of occupations. Outdoor work is carried out during fine weather, whilst plan and office work is reserved for the rainy days. Sometimes the work may lie hard, for no swagger knows bettor than tho surveyor how deeply the pack straps cut, or how welcome is the sound of the boiling hilly; but tho hardships are amply compensated for by the free open life and the invigorating nature of his task.