SURVEYORS' EXAMINATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18234, 30 October 1922, Page 3

SURVEYORS' EXAMINATIONS.

Sir, —I hare been criticised by friends for inaccurasy in my figures, so I hasten to apologise to the Surveyors' Board, and fro supply the correct figures. It appears that 33 boys sat and 9 passed, -hat is 27 per cent, qualified. This low percentage does not in the least alter my assertion, and the assertion of " Looker On," that there must be something wrong somewhere. In fact, I have been told that questions are sometimes asked which are more mathematical puzzles, and others which occur in practical wotfe about oneo in 30 years, and then can easily be looked up in the text books. I wonder what would bo the result if medical students at their examinations were asked to give the correct diagnosis of some obscure tropical disease, which never occurs outside of Nigeria or the Upper Amazon? Or students of accountancy to give a complete and accurate statement of the prosent financial condition of Germany, Herr Pfcinnes. and Russia? Or chemists a full description of the manufacture of 1.4-dia-mino-napthalene? Or one of the heterocyclic compounds? But enough of this elaboration. I appeal to the Surveyors' Board to give the boys a square deal and not be too bard on them, remembering that they will not all stay in this country, some finding their way into the Malay Peninsula, the Argentine, or even into that blessed Mesopotamia, now practically under British rule. Pakeut No. t

Sir,—l quite agree "with "Looker 6n" that the standard of papers set is unreasonably high, but I am not quite certain that he 'is right in stating that 96 per cent, of our present surveyors would fail in passing the exam. Personally, I should be inclined to say that 99 per cent. would fail, and that the only" pass" would be secured by the man who set the papers. The University examination*, begin next week. Among th* Kscbject® is commercial accountancy. Comprised- Ui this subject are book-keeping, mercantile law, and economics. As matters now stand, a candidate to pass must succeed in all three subjects. If he passes in book-keeping onlv he gets a certificate as book-keeper. B ha fails in book-keeping and passes in economics and mercantile law, he fails altogether and lias to sit again in a year's time and gets no credit for having passed m the two latter subjects, but has to sit, again for ,them- Surely that is unfair. Out old-established accountants would and themselves very hard pressed to pas 3 thesesubjects once, "and yet wader our new regulations, and. in such cases as this, candidates have to tackle them again after having once; passed them—a most unfair and unreasonable procedure- It would ba interesting, by the way, to hear of any busy business man wanting his accountant to theorise to him on economics, or of calling on him for legal advice. But that is not all. Assuming that candidates pass in all three subjects, they do not get their diplomas until they have passed their matriculation examination or accountants' preliminary. Returned soldiers up to next, month are exempt. Why should it be that V two candidates passing tho same examination for their pWxft'ssien in life. on» should get his diploma and the other wedd not do so without Tuassing another examination ? Surely, if there is any fairness about oar education 3ystem, the sarnie standard of. qualification should be necessarv in each' case for the ssama professiea. rn my opinion Ihfc whole examination System "is wrong. Eramiitiations should not be insuperable tasrrerii, nor diplomas reserved for genwiseii only, but! should' be held us te3fs to prove that candidates have an aJI-remnd knowledfir* of the subjects for which they ar» sitting. Some men are not able to show their best at examinations through nervonsness,' anxietv. and other causes, and I think that in such cases certificates to that effect from their tutors or correspondence colleges, who know their pupils work, should be taken into account when awarding the diplomas.

EtenmsED SouHEi.