ENGINEERING CADETS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19621, 27 April 1927, Page 15

ENGINEERING CADETS.

METHODS OF TRAINING.

NEiED FOR NEW SYSTEM.

REQUIREMENTS OF INDUSTRY.

THE DUTY OF THE EMPLOYER.

Alterations in the present system in New Zealand of training cadets for engineering were suggested yesterday by Mr. S. E. Lamb, director of engineering at title Auckland University College, in the course of an address on "Engineering and Technical Education," at the weekly luncheon of the Rotary Club. "Government departments such as the Public Works Department, the Railway and Post and Telegraph Departments, and various public bodies such as the City Council and Electric Power Board, train cadets who are expected to become technical engineers," said Mr. Lamb. "An engineering education involves a great amount of study, and takes an intelligent student a minimum of four years' tuition before he can obtain an engineering degree. Yet all the bodies appoint cadets, often direct from a secondary school, and expect them to obtain their scientific training in the evenings. The consequence is that numbers of such youths are being only partially trained, which is not good for them or ths bodies concerned."

Attendance at College. Mr. Lamb said this should be altered in one of two ways. Either the employing concerns should appoint their cadets after they had completed a college course or they should allow them reasonable time off during the clay to enable them to attend classes at the college. Arrangements could easily be made for educational reports to be sent to their superior officer at stated intervals. Certainly such bodies should set an example to private employers. Discussing impressions of his recent trip abroad, Mr. Lamb said, it was in England that he found the greatest change had taken place in the growth of the movement for scientific training. Employers of skilled labour all over the country seemed to be convinced that it was in their best interests to have educated staffs. Their idea was not limited to making provision lor an efficient workshop training, for they were convinced a scientific training was equally necessary to their employees, not only to enable them to take an intelligent interest in the processes of their work but also to give them an opportunity for advancement to a superior position as vacancies occurred.

Britain Recognises Benefits. "Many firms in England realise that apprentices should not be asked to undertake the whole of their studies in the evening," Mr. Lamb stated. "In many cases arrangements have been made with local educational authorities whereby the young industrialists are allowed a limited time off during working hours to attend classes provided for them. In addition, classes must also be attended on three evenings a week." Not only had Great Britain acknowledged the benefits to be derived from scientific education in her industries, but great progress had been made also in undertaking research work. At the close of the war a number of engineering firms organised development laboratories as part of their works equipment. Here new ideas were put into practical shape and tested for efficiency under most rigid conditions. As a consequence some electrical firms had redesigned most of their manufactured products. Position in the Dominion. 41 New Zealand'!! manufacturing works are small so that it is impossible to formulate an educational scheme for apprentices such as Britain is doing, but if New Zealand is to progress, the desire for technical education among their operatives must be encouraged by all employers, even if it means allowing time off in working hours for its accomplishment," added Mr. Lamb. "Certain set courses of study are provided at the university or at the technical college but a course best suited to your trade may not be one of those provided, because the number of students offering is not sufficient to justify such a course. That is one of the drawbacks of a thinly-populated country. There may be some difficulty in arranging such a course. My advice to you is to. worry somebody until your wants are attended to. I 'believe you will have no reason to regret it."