CIVIL ENGINEERS CONFER

Evening Star, Issue 22575, 17 February 1937, Page 9

CIVIL ENGINEERS CONFER

MR J. M‘G. WfLKIE ELECTED PRESIDENT

[Per United Press Association.]

CHRISTCHURCH, February 16. Over 150 delegates from all parts of tho Dominion were present this morning at tho opening of the twenty-third annual conference of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers. A welcome to the delegates was extended by the mayor (Mr J. W. Beanland) anil the chairman of the Canterbury College Council (Mr C. T. Aschman). The following officers were elected:— President, Mr J. M‘G. Wilkie (Dunedin) ; senior vice-president, Mr S. Irwin Crookes (Auckland) ; junior vicepresident, Mr A. J. Baker (Wellington) ; ordinary members of council— Messrs M. Cable, F. M, Corkill, F. E. de Guerrier, J. G. Lancaster, F. W. Maclean, E. Hitchcock, D. Holderness, F. T. M. Kissel. W. L. Newnham, and H. Vickerman; honorary treasurer, Mr J. Marchbanks; honorary secretary, Mr F. W. Furkert. The name of the was discussed at length, the council’s report stating: “Both within and without the society’s ranks there appears to be considerable evidence to show that the issue dealt with by a referendum in 1928 is by no means dead. The engineers engaged in mechanical, electrical, and other branches of the profession maintain that the comprehensive interpretation of the term ‘civil engineer’ is not generally acceptable at the present day. This society claims to cover all branches of the profession, and it seems desirable, therefore, that members should review the whole position,” —A motion by Mr H. F. Toogood that the conference recommend the council to ask branches to consider favourably a. change in the name of the society was carried.

Another resolution, moved by Mr Farkert—“That a referendum be hold if there is a favourable reply from the branches.” was carried.

Mr Toogood’s second proposal—- “ That tho conference recommend to the council that, if the name is changed it should be altered to the New Zealand Institution of Engineers,” was adopted The next meeting of the society will bo held at Dunedin,.