STIFF TEST

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21994, 20 June 1941, Page 2

STIFF TEST

Syllabus For Women Drivers “I have read through the special syllabus for Women Auxiliary Drivers and I have no hesitation in saying that it would prove very suitable for a qualified A grade mechanic's examination—not driving—with a small percentage of passes. This was the considered opinion of a Timaru garage proprietor on the new Dominion examination women trainees in the driving of heavy motor vehicles for war work are required to pass. The opinion, together with a copy of the syllabus, was submitted to a meeting of the Automobile Association (S.C.) last night by Mr S. G. McClelland. Some time ago the Automobile Association, at the request of the Timaru Sub-Centre of the Red Cross, undertook the supervision of the training of women drivers and the tuition was given by the Patrol Officer (Mr F. T. Owers) and later by two men from a Timaru garage. At the last Dominion examination 12 out of the 19 presented in Timaru passed, but the test igas so difficult that no passes were secured in New Plymouth. The latest syllabus sent down from Wellington from the Automotive Engineers’ Institute was so difficult, Mr McClelland said, that it would tax any A grade mechanic to pass it. He had shown it to several foremen of garages and they stated that it would be perfectly useless to try to get girls to pass such an examination. Mr D. J. Mcßeath, who quoted from the syllabus, said that an apprentice of five years’ experience would be unable to pass the examination. The syllabus covered theoretical matter which was of no use for qualifying to drive. The meeting took the view that it would be inadvisable to coach the girls to pass the examination, and agreed that it would be better to proceed as in the past to teach the girls to drive and not to take notice of the New Zealand examination. It was decided to pass the information on to the E.P.S. organisation and to the Red Cross.