SURVEYING PROFESSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19867, 13 August 1926, Page 10

SURVEYING PROFESSION.

INCOMPETENT CADETS. INADEQUATELY EDUCATED. (From Oub Own Coerespondent.) AUCKLAND, August 12. The training of cadets for the surveying profession is a matter which is exercising tho New Zealand Institute ot Surveyors. It was reported at yesterday s meeting that complaints had been made of the insufficient training given to citlets with the result that boys who had been sent into the field tor practical experience had to be sent back, because they were totally unfitted for work. Another allegation was that cadets were being used largely as cheap labour, taking the place of, and doing the work of, chainmen. The President (Mr F. I. Ledger), of Nelson, said he had come across many instances of incompetence on the part ot cadets. In Australia the Surveyors Boards were advocating university training, tie did not know whether that meant the taking of a university degree or diploma, bi/t it was quite evident the time hau come when cadets must have a better education and keep terms at a university for at least one year. If it were impracticable to attend lectures provision already existed for keeping terms by correspondence. Mr A. H. Bogle, a member of the survey ors’ Board; said he knew of boys who went to surveyors in Wellington quite untrained. He had opportunities of seeing examination papers, and was surprised at Ihe absurdity of some of tho answers to practical questions. Not only was it in the interest of surveyors that cadets shou d bo properly trained, but also there was a duty to the public who had the right to demand that surveyors work should bo done by qualified men, and not by incompetent boys. He quoted the case of a surveyor’s office which was run for months by two boys while the surveyor was ai Mr W. Beere, of Wellington, said that unless a man first had training i as a chainman he i-ould never teach a chamman his job Nevertheless, he agreed that a cadet who had not passed his matriculation examination was likely to turn out a failure. A committee was appointed to find ways and means of obtaining 1 a better educational standard among cadets.