Opinions from Others.
Page 16
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,D.H.M.S. Badges.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1381] Sir,—I wish to second the suggestion of your correspondent in last week's issue, Mr. R. J. Williams, in the matter of the issue of badges to all engaged on Government work in the motor trade.
Men doing this kind of work are serving their country just as well at their professional posts in the trade, as joining the special regiments, which might be filled by men, not engaged so directly, to the advantage of the War Authorities. I, for another, would be glad to see the universal • distribution of a badge to workmen, draughtsmen, etc., engaged on Government work.—Yours faith
fully, "A DRAUGHTSMAN IN THE TRADE."
Firemen as Drivers or Drivers as Firemen?
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1382] Sir,—I take the liberty of writing to you and =enclosing a cutting from "The Huddersfield Examiner," of the 9th inst., re a, mishap to one of the corporation's fire-engines. I take the opportunity, now this mishap has occurred, to inform you of what in my opinion is a highly mistaken policy of several fire brigades in not employing thoroughly experienced driver-mechanics, who have had years of heavyvehicle driving to their credit. Of course, I do not imply that the above affair would not have occurred had a man of long experience with heavy vehicles been at the wheel ; as we are all aware, the best can meet with accidents, but, at the same time, a powerful machine, weighing about five tons and capable of a speed of 40 m.p.h., requires a driver who can adapt himself to all emergencies, and that is where long =experience tells.
1 now refer you to a cutting, taken from a Huddersfield journal called The Worker," dated the 25th April last, which took my case up when I resigned from the Huddersfield Corporation Brigade. I was 'engaged by the above corporation as an experienced driver-mechanic, and having had 14 years in all branches of the heavy-vehicle industry, I think I can claim that title. I was given to understand I should be in charge of all machines, and be responsible for
their maintenance. All went well until the staff -gained a certain amount of knowledge, and then I was politely informed that I should have to be on the same level as men on the staff who had learnt and were learning driving, my experience to count for nothing. -Naturally, I resigned, as any conscientious man -would. So under the circumstances I think I can agree with THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR view—" It is better to make a driver into a fireman, than a fireman into a driver."—Yours faithfully, "BEEN HAD." [We referred to this areident last week—ED.]
The Draughtsman and His Pay.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1383] Sir,—Referring to your recent excellent remarks about the draughtsman's being worthy of his hire, I would suggest that you reprint them in the form of a neat Christmas card and forward a copy to every managing director in the industry. Unfortunately the term "Draughtsman" is used by most people to cover a number of grades, without distinction, for instance :— 1. The tracer, age 16 to 26 years, pay 108. to 25s.
2. The junior, very often a promoted tracer, neat, but lacking in mechanical knowledge. 3. The B.Sc., age about 21 years, three years college, and nine months works' experience., i.e., three months each in pattern shop, machine shop and fitting shop ; usually writes an illegible fist, cannot sharpen a pencil properly, performs conjuring tricks on a slide rule, and cannot add together a column of figures with any degree of accuracy.
4. The Correspondence School product ; "just secured &position at 50 per cent. increase in salary," total = 30s. per week ; very willing, but does not know anything without a book.
5. The average draughtsman, aged about 26 years, a chap who has had about eight years evening classes and five years' drawing office experience ; a genuine trier, who is beginning to think about getting married on X2 per week. 6. The leading draughtsman, aged about 30 years, the man who does a lot of hard work, and corrects the errors of Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 for 23 a week and visionary prospects. 7. Draughtsman, or shall we say designer? with all the knowledge you mentioned in your remarks, a man aged about 40 years, who has probably had some little commercial experience, is well up in estimating, and often has held a position as works manager in a small shop, which, perhaps for lack of capital, has closed down. This man sometimes gets stuck in a drawing office for 23 3s. per week, and is promised all sorts of good positions if he will only wait for them! But invariably he is so useful in providing ideas and brains for works and general managers that they never see their way to fulfil the promises, and as the poor draughtsman is generally a married man with a family, he has to hang on or change his occupation entirely. As to the firms who sack the " non-producers " when work gets slack, it would be a good thing if all advertisers were compelled to give their names, or at least the location of their works, when inviting applications for positions, then the replies would not be so numerous as they have been in the pasb.—Yours faithfully, "AN OLD HAND," A.M.I.M.E.