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THE STATUS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD SURVEYOR. 71

qualified Surveyor who in applying for a surveyorship finds that he has to compete against such a conglomerate lot of individuals, and who, perhaps, often learns to his sorrow that his training and abilities avail him nothing when one of the above-mentioned competitors or some such like local nonentity happens to be a personal friend or relative of some of the powers that be.

This is really an important matter, and one that has a direct bearing upon the welfare of every competent Local Board Surveyor in the kingdom, and until some suitable examination is made compulsory by the Legislature, the author is afraid that the unfair and unlimited competition indicated above will increase instead of diminish, and thus cause the poor unfortunate Surveyor to labour all the best years of his life for what, in many cases, is financially no better than what he could have earned, assuming he had been employed as a foreman mason or bricklayer.

The author has said, the best years of his life, for he knows of good men who, having applied for appointments, have been left out in the cold simply because they were on the wrong side of forty years of age.

In this respect the Surveyor compares very unfavourably with Poor Law and Civil Service officers, who, when they have worked a certain number of years, are rewarded by a generous nation with a handsome pension for the remainder of their lives.

The author is inclined to think the salaries of surveyors should be paid entirely by the Local Government Board, so as to make them thoroughly independent from any local preponderating influence whatsoever. This arrangement is already partially carried out and recognised by the above Board, who pay a certain proportion of the salaries of Sanitary Inspectors and Medical Officers of Health out of moneys voted annually by Parliament for that purpose.

The question also of granting legal protection to the Surveyor who satisfactorily performs his duties (which is at present denied, and already enjoyed by the Sanitary Inspector) is also a matter which undoubtedly militates against the stability and professional position of the Surveyor. As an act of common justice, some amendment in this respect is absolutely necessary.

The author ventures to say that unless some steps are taken to improve and strengthen the position of the Local Board Surveyor, so as to give him a recognised status and protection as a professional man, the important duties of his office will in the future

have to be discharged, not by men of practical training and education, but by others whose fitness for the duties will be in proportion to the small salaries which unchecked competition must eventually

create.

There are many other points which the author would liked to have touched upon, but thinks that sufficient has been said to prove that the profession is on a very unsatisfactory basis, and that there is plenty of scope for improvement if the Surveyor of the future is to assert the important position as a professional man to which he should be and is justly entitled to occupy.

In conclusion, the author trusts that the members of this Association will not think this subject-which he cannot do justice to-beneath their notice, and if in any form or shape some pressure could be brought to bear upon the Local Government Board to give the same their earnest consideration, with a view to improving the status of the profession, he will be amply repaid for any little trouble that he has undertaken.

DISCUSSION.

The PRESIDENT: We shall be glad to hear any remarks on this paper.

Mr. PETREE: In my opinion there is nothing that would do more good than for the local surveyor to be paid entirely by the Local Government Board. As it is, property owners, in the shape of builders, make it little better than hell upon earth for some surveyors. This is rather strong language, but it is expressive, and it would be the same for the Medical Officer and Sanitary Inspector had they not been protected. With regard to the examination, I do not think it would do much good, as "crammed competitors might be able to turn aside really able men.

Mr. JAMES HALL: I entirely dissent from the idea of holding examinations. There are many able men who would not " cram for an examination such as the Sanitary Institute provides. One of my young men has prepared for it, and his general reading did him good to a certain extent; but there is very little that is practical in it. With regard to the salaries of surveyors, it is natural for authorities to think that they can get men at almost any price. There is hardly an appointment worth 1007., but there are four score of applicants for it. Many of these have been or are surveyors, and so it happens that authorities think that the supply is

large. But is that the case? I do not think so. Many of the candidates send in their applications merely to see what chance they stood in applying for such a place. Others apply for a love of change. If surveyors would but look to their own interests, it would be the best means of raising the status of all.

Mr. THORROLD: I agree very much with Mr. Hall, and fail to see the utility of an examination. If such an examination only taught surveyors the manly art of self-defence for they have frequently almost to box for an existence it would do some good. I do not know how some people expect surveyors to exist on the salaries offered, or how they can expect other applicants than the worn-out constable or broken-down gardener. I think the best way for surveyors to raise their status is to attend to their own districts. I have known a surveyor with 1507. a year apply for a situation in a district where the salary was only 1007. Surely he applied merely to see what chance he had.

Mr. J. HALL: The best test of a man's ability is for the authority to send a committee to examine the districts managed by the applicants.

Mr. THOMSON: That would be the most satisfactory.

The PRESIDENT: I have always taken a great interest in this subject. The examination of the Sanitary Institute is simply nonsense, and has evidently been drawn up by some person who has no practical knowledge of the work of a surveyor. An examination is only a means to an end. The best course for a young man is to serve an apprenticeship in a good office.

Mr. STAINTHORPE: I am glad you all fall in with my ideas with regard to the want of protection, for we all require it. With regard to there being some check upon the employment of unsuitable men, I am still of opinion that something should be done in that direction, for in many cases the applicants for the post of surveyor are not professional men at all. I think the Government should insist upon the appointment of professional men, and in the case of small authorities, unable to employ such a surveyor, the Government should amalgamate two or three of them together.

Mr. J. HALL moved, and Mr. Thorrold seconded a vote of thanks to Mr. Stainthorpe for his paper, which was carried by acclamation, and duly acknowledged.

The Secretary read a letter from Mr. Vawser, suggesting an alteration of Rule V.

The matter was discussed, but as the subject was to be brought

before the Annual Meeting at Oxford, it was thought desirable that no opinion should be expressed by this meeting.

A hearty vote of thanks to the President was proposed and carried unanimously, for his having at considerable expense and sacrifice of time presided at the meeting.

The Members were hospitably entertained by the Tees Scoriæ Brick Company. At luncheon, Mr. John Dixon, the genial Chairman of the Company, presided, and there were also present Mr. C. Moses (Vice-president), Mr. G. Watson, J.P. (Director), Mr. C. J. Dobbs (Engineer), and Mr. T. R. Dent (Secretary). Afterwards the Members, accompanied by the gentlemen just named, visited the Cement Flag Works of Mr. A. J. Jones, at Middlesbrough, and were also conveyed to the works of the Tees Scoria Brick Company, at Stockton, where the whole process was viewed. On the motion of Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Jas. Hall, a hearty vote of thanks was awarded to the Tees Scoria Brick Company for their kind hospitality.

ANNUAL MEETING IN OXFORD,

June 28, 29, and 30, 1883.

ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT,

W. H. WHITE, M. Inst. C.E., Local Board, Oxford.

GENTLEMEN, --I beg to return you my sincere thanks for the high honour you have conferred upon me in electing me President of the Association for the ensuing year, and at the same time to offer you a hearty welcome to Oxford.

When I look back at the names of the nine able men who have preceded me in the chair (two of whom have, to our great loss, been lately taken from us), I cannot but feel some distrust of my own fitness to take up and carry on their work.

I am, however, sure that I shall have the willing co-operation of of the past Presidents and Council, so that with such help, coupled with close attention on my own part to the business of the Association, and with an earnest desire to advance its interests and increase its usefulness, I may be enabled to give a good account of my duties.

You have heard from the report of the Council of our continued progress and prosperity. We have to congratulate ourselves on our increasing numbers, but still, when we consider the small proportion they yet bear to the total number of those eligible for membership, the desirability of every Member doing all he can to bring others in is very apparent.

The stronger we become in numbers the more solid will become the "concrete mass" spoken of in the Inaugural Address of my immediate predecessor, and the more we shall be able to achieve.

Without being charged with undue laudation of the work of our Association, I may be permitted to assert that, young as it is in comparison with many other technical societies, our meetings and discussions, and the publication of our Proceedings have not only conduced to the interchange and extension of our own knowledge