AN EMBARRASSMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27392, 18 May 1950, Page 5

AN EMBARRASSMENT

Coal Mining Bursars CLAIM OF MINING SCHOOL DIRECTOR After the first few years, the coal mining bursars trained under the new scheme at the Otago School of Mines would be an embarrassment to the Government. This opinion was expressed by the Director of the Westport School of Mines, Mr E. W. Pearson, at the conference of mining officials begun at the Otago School of Mines yesterday. There was an important field for graduates of Otago University in the industry, he said, but it was limited, and the six bursars who graduated each year would soon overcome the present shortage of mine managers. Mr Pearson was speaking after a brief address on coal mining education had been given by the dean of the School of Mines, Professor G. J. Williams. Professor Williams said that there ,was no answer to the question whether the university graduate was a better mine manager than the man who had trained in a different manner. The difference depended on the men themselves. The school wanted to see free competition in the industry between the two types of graduates. Professor Williams also made the plea that the coal mining industry should be brought into closer touch with allied engineering professions. The work involved in the former required no less a degree of skill than many other professions, and it would be to their advantage to enjoy the status the other allied professions enjoyed. He suggested that the mining school could assist in distributing information obtained from trade and overseas magazines to mining executives who did not have the time to read the latter. He also emphasised that the pursuit of knowledge and research work was a function of those actively engaged in the profession as well as those working at the school of mines, and the department. The director of the School of Mines at Reefton, Mr W. s J. Holitho, made a protest against the proposed reduction of practical working time needed by students at the university before they could graduate. It was necessary to send the students down among the men to prove their mettle, he said, and if they were unable to do so, they were no wanted in the mining industry. In reply to complaints about the examinations set for mine manager students in the district schools, the chief inspector of Coal Mines, Mr R. H. Schoen, said that the subject was so large that a choice of questions would give the student no advantage. An oral test gave the students a chance to show their knowledge more than the written examination which required a 60 per cent, mark for a pass. There was also a field for the education of boys and men working in the mines. This could be aimed at improving the worker and increasing his safety. A presentation of films and commercial demonstrations was held, and last night there was a conversazione at the school, followed by an inspection with demonstrations of equipment. The conference will continue today.'