president's address SECTION H. 211 



The average student is so busy trying to pass examinations that 

 he fails to respond to the broadening of outlook and the wider 

 view whicli the training should give him. Are the few years given 

 tu a university course used to the best advantage? It is of no 

 u?e to try and squeeze in more subjects. My experience leads 

 me to advocate a reduction of time spent on many of the subjects 

 al present, however important those subjects may be, in order that 

 the student may be taught hew to apply what he dees learn in 

 an intelligent manner to definite ends, that he may attain to 

 better understanding of the general principles of his work, that 

 his imaginative faculty may be developed, that he nlay acquire 

 scientific methods of dealing with prcblems that will face him, 

 together with something of business and finance. In other words, 

 that he may be fitted to applv what he has learnt to his profes- 

 sional work and do so successfully. The present system too often 

 turns out men who have what I may liken to the tools of their 

 trade, while, for want of skill, they cannot make effective use of 

 them. In the past university training has specialized largely on 

 design, which, however important, is only one part of our pro- 

 fessional work out of many. The other parts are equally im- 

 portant and equally necessary fcr success. They should net be 

 neglected. 



The engineer, and often the architect, toe, is in these times 

 called upon — 



1. To initiate work : that is, to bring forward proposals for 



new works for the benelfit of the community. 



2. To design such works. 



3. To estimate what they will cost and the time required to 



•carry them out. 



4. To carry out the works with control of all the staff and 



workmen engaged en thean. To maintain efficient 

 working and bring out results in accordance with his 

 estimates. 



His training should prepare him for (dj these. At present, can 

 it be maintained that such is the case ? The university student 

 at present completes his course and goes out in the world to' make 

 his way with a minimum of knowledge of business and finance ; 

 in fact, his time at the university has influenced him in the direc- 

 tion of unfitness for business, and if he is to succeed he has to 

 acquire business knowledge as best he can, and often through costly 

 experience and hard knocks. 



The wastage on engineering, and, probably, architectural work, 

 too, that is due to this deficiency is very large, and I believe more 

 serious than what is due to' errors in design. 

 1084—16 



