PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.57 p.m.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The rapid expansion of industries and the construction of more and more, and higher and higher buildings in the Republic has placed a greater burden of responsibility on our practising engineers. Unlike law, medicine or accountancy, the practice of engineering is not governed by any substantial written law, and the 800 or so practising engineers can only be registered, if they so desire, as practising architects. With the need today for more sophisticated engineering projects, the Government feels the time has come to legislate for the compulsory registration and control of practising engineers.

The Bill seeks to provide, inter alia, for the establishment of a Professional Engineers Board which will be responsible for the registration of all practising engineers. The Board will regulate the practice and will hear and determine disputes relating to their profession, and it will have the power to cancel the registration of a professional engineer, or suspend him for as long as it thinks fit.

Provision has been made to empower the Board in the event of any prima facie defect in work or prima facie negligence to suspend forthwith the engineer responsible from further performance of his profession for a period of time pending further investigation and the final decision of the Board. This provision is strict but considered to be necessary in order to safeguard life and property and to maintain a high standard of performance by professional engineers.

All persons who possess the necessary qualifications may apply for registration. There is no restriction on the applicant's citizenship. Unregistered persons will, of course, be prohibited from practising as professional engineers.

Following the passage of this Bill, the existing Architects Ordinance will be amended and brought up to date to fall in line with some of the provisions herein. This Bill, though it says "Third Reading immediately after the Second Reading" on the Order Paper, will be sent to Select Committee where further representations of the profession and those of the public can be made and will be given every consideration.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.

Resolved,

"That the Bill he committed to a Select Committee consisting of eight members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection."-[Mr Barker].