- 10.
this is the department which from the first
attracted and still noticeably attracts the greatest number of students.
28. A few Civil Engineers produced by the University will continue, as now, to find employment in various capacities in the Colony and also in
Malaya.
But as regards China proper we consider that the University should frankly face the fact that it is acting with no ulterior motives in its attempt to supply the engineers that are so urgently needed for developments of all kinds.
29. We would go a stage further and suggest that the post-graduate training required should be deliberately provided in the Colony to such students from China in the road making, waterworks and building offices of the Public Works Department without any thought of their subsequent employment in the Colony. 30. We are fully aware of the tendency to-day
in Europe to recruit University graduates for such openings as may lead to the higher posts in commercial engineering, on the principle that such recruits will probably have a better knowledge of the under- lying principles of their profession than the mere technician.
31. But such graduation in Europe is, if not preceded, invariably followed (as well as accompanied during University vacations) by a rigorous practical training in commercial workshops. The best of laboratories, we are satisfied, is for this purpose of little value compared with the discipline of real
108
X
Page 110Page 111