CHOICE OF A CAREER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20420, 23 November 1929, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHOICE OF A CAREER.

BY 15. MOWBEAY-IMNNIS3.

SURVEYING: SELLING LAND.

XIV. Tho profession of tho surveyor is one of the most ancient occupations of man. Up to quite recent his work was almost entirely associated with the art of measuring tho angular and linear distances of objects on the surfaco of the earth, so as to be able to delineate their several positions on paper, but to-day he has applied his science to a much wider field and measures almost everything. Tho unit of tho Roman land surveyor was the jugcrum or yokeland: tho oxen ploughed a furrow 120 Roman feet long before they wanted a rest, and 120 by 120 formed the actus, and two square actus or 120 by 240 was the day's ploughing, which equalled tho jugcrum. This unit enabled tho Roman to estimate

readily tho crops which could be grown upon any given piece of land, or the

houses that could bo built, thereon. If our town surveyors had possessed tho simple, forward-looking skill of the Romans, who always drew plans by looking well ahead, as their broad, straight roads prove, we should have never seen

tho cramped and congested areas of our great cities, which havo to a large extent bred our slums.

Tho replanning of our cities is not very iar distant and will bo the work of the

boys and girls who are now at school. Hero then is a career that offers great prospects in tho immediate future, especially for the youth who has vision and that forward-looking mind that sees far ahead of his fellows. Surveying must

no longer bo thought of by parents in tho terms of mapping out virgin regions, especially in New Zealand, for this work forms but a very small part of the surveyor's business to-day. And when we arc told that tho aeroplano can do in one hour's flight what it took a body of men months or even years to achieve, the old days of hard tramping and camping will soon have passed away. Our old pioneers will heave a heavy sigh at tho thought! While, then, his work still takes him into tho open, a great deal of tho surveyor's time is spent in the office. Technical Training.

The various branches of the profession should be carefully studied by parents before entering their boys for training, for a boy may succeed in one branch of tho business where he would fail in another.

For instance, mine surveying is a highly specialised branch demanding a wide knowledgo of mining, mine rents, royalties, leases, covenants and laws of mines and minerals; quantity surveying, on tho other hand, while requiring specialised knowledge, does not need the technical knowledge of the mine surveyor. Quantity survey, however, is one of the most remunerative branches of the profession. This work requires a wide knowledge of building and engineering. 11l building the new London County Hall,

the quantity surveyors had to estimate for 4,000,000 floor blocks, 200.000 tons of concrete, 114 acres of surface to be treated with paint, 100 acres of plastered surfaces, 29,000,000 bricks and 37 miles of heating and ventilation pipes. It will be seen from these figures that tho nature of the quantity surveyor's work is both vital and exacting, for the expense of any undertaking, largo or small, depends mainly upon the quantity of the materials used.

Every town lias its surveyor, while the big cities employ a staff of qualified men in the various branches of the profession. These posts are well paid and often lead to tho highest positions in municipal work. The Government surveyor is out on his own, and is well cared for in the matter of remuneration.

Tho New Zealand Institute of Surveyors is an old established organisation with a membership of some 300 men—both Government and private surveyors. The Surveyors' Board, which consists of the Surveyor-General as chairman and two Government and two private surveyors, examines candidates for registration. The licences which the board grants are reciprocal with those of tho Australian States.

Tests on Entsring and Alter. For registration a boy is required to matriculate and put in four years' study under a qualified surveyor. The salary of cadets during the course of training is £4O, £6O. £BO, and £IOO respectively. Tho Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) is conferred by the University of New Zealand and is'tho degree that all young men should aim at who aspire after the big positions in the profession. While the surveyor in New Zealand to-day is not enjoying great prosperity, there aro good posts to bo obtained abroad, especially in the East. In many cases the New Zealand surveyor is preferred before any other.

The Hammer. The business of auctioneering is usually combined with that of estato business, and the two together form a, most lucrative living. Some of our most prosperous citizens have made their money from this business. A wise proverb tells us that gold may bo bought too dear. It, is equally true that land, from which all gold is t derived, may be, and has in New Zealand been, bought too dear. How far the land agents aro to blamo none of us can judge. All wo do know is that they havo not been .the sufferers. The naturo of the business of this career is undoubtedly a very severe test of honesty, for (liko tho auctioneer) tho estate agent often makes his money out of tho more ignorant general public, who aro pretty easily gulled. Highly reputable land agents are to be found in every town and it is with tlieso firms that wise parents will place their boys for training. The business of the auctioneer probably had its beginning in the selling of shares, which was a very remunerative occupation. The slave is the one commodity that docs not come under 'tho hammer "to-day, but the business thrives nevertheless, especially in times of national disaster and distress. Tho auctioneer lias to be a man of many parts, and should possess a knowledge of tho valuo of everything, but more important still is tho readiness of his tongue. The auctioneer who sold an autograph of Shakespeare for 157gns. secured that fancy liguro by his persuasive tongue and convincing personality more than by his knowledge of Shakespeare. The auctioneer is often called upon to act in a highly responsible official capacity, especially when ho has to make a valuation for probate or compensation claims. A smart boy can enter an estato agent's ollico and pick up the business in a few years, and if ho is shrewd and keeps his eyes open he should be able to start on his own account in the course of time, as tho business does not requiro a large capital. That auctioneer who dreamt that ho was under the hammer, and heard the rough voice of the red-faced man shout as he raised a huge mallet over his head: "Going! going!"—and then awakened in a bath of perspiration, may have procured excellent prices for his client tho day before, but if he had followed tho royal road which leads to success in this and every career ho would havo had a moro peaceful night's rest. Honesty in business has gained for us a world-wido reputation which our children must guard as the mtist sacred possession that has boon handed down to them.

This series of articles will conclude next week with a special article entitled " Youth's Heritage."-