DREDGEMEN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11795, 26 July 1900, Page 3

DREDGEMEN.

TO THE EDITOK.

g IEj I gee in your issue of the 21st inst. a letter' signed "Engineer," in which he says I am greatly mistaken —that dredgemen as a whole ire a well-educated and intelligent &et of workmen, and that he has only met one man during four years' dredging that, would .fail in arithmetic. ,

Now, Sir, I venture to .say that any. Fifth Standard boy could do'the arithmetic necessary for an enginedrivers certificate. Does "Engineer" consider a. Fifth Standard boy "well educated?!'' If he does, he evidently does not know the moaning of well educated.

Intelligent, dredgemen certainly are, otherwise they could not hold the position they do and rierform the duties necessary to the successful working of .a dredge. If, as "Engineer" says, dredge enginedrivers are well educated, how does it 'dome'about that such a small percentage hold certificates? Take this district, for instance. There are four dredges at' work employing 12. drivers, all thoroughly competent'men. Only two out of the 12 hold' certificates—the .two have only lately passed their examination. Ask why they don't go up for examination, and they reply, " Oh, we cpiriot do ■ the arithmetic paper"; or, "We don't think we could give written answers • to- questions." It is very evident that they lack the necessary education, or there would bo a larger number holding certificates.

" Engineer " says there is nothing at present to prohibit a manager from employing an inexperienced man to drive an engine. He must have a very poor opinion of the capabilities of our managers. I think that ninetynine out of a hundred would engage men that had practical experience, caring ■ very little if they held a certificate or not.

'" Engineer's " four years' experience must have taught him that a dredge's success does not altogether depend on the richness of the wash, 'bitt to a large measure on the efficiency of her crew—that is,, speaking of average ground. "Engineer" doubts my statement of men gaining certificates on their ability to learn the questions with their, answers contained in various guides, etc. Nevertheless, such is the case. I know of one instance where a man went up for examination and passed in a very creditable manner, got hie certificate, and had never attended an engine or a boiler, not oven for a shift. If, as. "Engineer" says, when the present measure before the House becomes law. those that have been driving for a certain time will be granted certificates of service, where- does the necessity ariso for examination at all? Could .not the cadets after six or twelve months' service be passed on for certificates of service?

Now, Sir, I think such a practice would be very much open to abuso, and I fancy "Engineer" will think so too whe.ii he looks at it in, a proper light. I quite agree with "Engineer" that drivers" should hold certificates, but let them be gained by practical experience, and.under no circumstances grant a certificate of service to any driver without his first going tinder an oral examination by the inspector of engines. They could pay the usual fee, and present themselves for examination on ;the inspector's annual inspection of boilers.-

Sir, I am; not an eng-inedriver, and am in no way interested, except as an, employer of enginedrivers, and, as such, I for one would bo very sorry to sco an injustice done to a class of very competent men.—l am, etc.,