ROLE OF THE SURVEYOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23130, 31 August 1938, Page 12

ROLE OF THE SURVEYOR

Through the whole of New Zealand's history as a country in European occupation, the land has been the leading factor in the national life. It is to-day, though its primacy is sometimes obscured by over-emphasis on other factors. Among those whose services arc indispensable to the occupation of land without dispute as to ownership area, and above all, bou.'idaries, the surveyor stands among the first, if he is not actually in advance of all the rest. The annual conference of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors, now being held in Auckland, directs attention to this body of professional men whose work is usually done without the public being aware of it. In welcoming the delegates yesterday the Mayor referred to the hardships and dangers constantly faced by the pioneer surveyors. This was particularly appropriate to the other subject with which Sir Ernest linked it—the coming centennial celebrations. In doing honour, as New Zealand must, to the men and women who were first on the trail of settlement and development, it will be necessary to remember specially the men who usually went first and blazed that trail—the surveyors. They were the first to taste the rigours of pioneering as new territory offered for settlement. When disputes arose over the purchase and subdivision of native land, it was often on the surveyors that the weight of Maori enmity first fell. They explored territory in which the European had never previously set foot. Much bush lore, and much of the natural history of the country was first observed and recorded by members of survey parties. The study of the Maori, his language, customs and oral historical records, has been greatly enriched by the work of many early surveyors. All told, the present is one occasion, and the Centennial will be another, to realise how great a part in tho life of the country tho surveyor has played.