ENGINEERING SCHOOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22076, 4 April 1935, Page 15

ENGINEERING SCHOOL

Sir. in Saturday's Herald prominence was given to the threatened closing of the School of Engineering at Auckland University College. As an engineer I am convinced that this would be the most serious setback the Auckland engineering industrialists have e%er experienced. The science of engineering is so vast and so technical that e\en the practical engineer can only hope to make a thorough study of one branch of the subject. But back of the various branches of the industry there is the section of basic principle common to ail branches, the study of which in its entirotv is only possible in such an institution as the Engineering School of tho university. At the present time more attention is being given than ever before to the development of secondary industries, yet it is being suggested that one of our greatest assets in the development of our most important secondary industry is to be retrenched"." The farmer has been assisted in manv wavs, even to the extent of tampering with the exchange, and also receives many benefits in the way of free advice in matters relating to his stock, reduced freight on fertilisers, etc.. while industry is frequently penalised bv inadequate tariffs, etc. And now the culminating point regarding neglee of the engineering industry is approaching, with the suggested closing of the Engineering School. I am convinced that the time has arrived to make an emphatic protest against this move. Once this school is closed great cliihculty will be experienced in getting it started again, if ever, and the largest citv in the Dominion will be handicapped bv having lost the most useful asset for the local development of research and advanced study in the engineering industry. Engineer.