Higher Salaries For Engineers Urged

Northern Advocate, 9 January 1948, Page 5

Higher Salaries For Engineers Urged

WELLINGTON, Fri. (P.A.). “Tiie method oi' stabilisation that retains key persons in the community on an economic level that is effectively lower than, it was 10 or 15 years ago is certainly not a solution to our economic needs," said the president of the Professional Engineers’ Association (Mr R. S. Maunder) yesterday. He emphasised the increasing shortage of trained engineers and other scientific workers in the Dominion. A number of engineers in New Zealand recently received a questionnaire from the British Ministry of Labour and National Service, which is conducting a survey oi scientific and technological manpower, he said. This questionnaire seeks information about academic and professional qualifications. type and nature of work, age, country of residence, and salary. BARLOW REPORT ‘ It appears that this survey is a result of the Barlow Report, presented to the British Government in May, 1946," said Mr Maunder. “That report estimated that the shortage of trained scientific workers in Britain would reach 10.000 by 1950 and 25.000 by 1955. "Our association in New Zealand has endeavoured to impress on the Government the serious shortage of professional engineers and other scientific workers here. "Unless steps are taken to remedy the position. New Zealand will, withm a few years, be in a comparatively worse position than England. “Training facilities in New Zealand are very limited and a large number of students, unable to attend the engineering schools at Canterbury or Auckland University Colleges, have either to attend technical schools or take correspondence courses. “These facilities are not up to the standard required for adequate professional training.” STAY OVERSEAS Mr Maunder said the majority of engineering graduates from the New Zealand universities went overseas foi advanced training and, because of the more attractive salaries offering, many of them did not return. t The salaries paid in New Zealand to professional men were lower than those for senior positions anywhere else in the British Empire. His association was concerned from the national point of view, because New Zealand’s economic existence would depend increasingly on trained scientists in engineering and other fields. Representations had, therefore, been made recently to the Government, urging it to take steps to remedy the position.