NEWSLETTER
|
UNITED KINGDOM Association NEWSLETTER |
| No 154 | October 1998 |
| News From New Zealand | Reciprocal Arrangements |
| Proposed new Act for Professional Engineers in New Zealand - IPENZ position | |
| In Brief | |
| Dates for Your Diary | |
| New Work Phone Number for Secretary! |
By now the chosen few will be getting ready for their climbing expedition up Big Ben, or should we say St Steven's Tower in which Big Ben is housed (22nd October 1998). We are hoping that oxygen masks will not be required.
The clock tower moves up and down with the water levels in the Thames and has also developed a lean in the NW direction. The tower was built in 1858 following the destruction of the original Houses of Parliament in 1834. It is 92m high, comprising 61m of stone faced loadbearing brickwork, with a cast iron belfry and spire making up the remaining 31m. In plan the tower is 12m by 12m. The tower had an existing tilt of about 250 mm prior to modern day construction. The underground car park in the new palace yard in 1972 contributed a further 80 mm to the lean whilst various recent works on the Jubilee Line extension have seen the tower move by another 20 mm or so. (Hopefully mostly rectified by compensation grouting once it was discovered.)
The Westminster clock itself has a pendulum weight of approximately half a tonne that probably contributes to the movement of the tower as well. Let's hope that no-one suffers from seasickness.
The tour of Big Ben in conjunction with the British Watch and Clockmakers Guild starts at 1.00 p.m. beneath the clock tower but we hope to meet earlier at a hostelry nearby. Details for those attending are included with the newsletter.
At the 1997 AGM a number of graduates expressed the wish for an evening devoted to discussion and instruction of the requirements necessary for the Professional Review, particularly with regard to monitored training, "mentoring" and continuity whilst working in the UK. This was a great success and we have been requested to repeat the event with more particular emphasis on new members or those considering joining at any level. Application forms will be available at the meeting including all those necessary for Professional Review and Continuing Professional Development.
We have booked the same venue at the Southern Cross pub, 65 New Kings Rd, SW6 for a presentation by Brian Anderson continuing the theme of "The Route to Membership," and informal discussion of individual needs. Meet from 6.30 p.m. for 7.00 p.m. on Thursday, 12th November. Estimated completion at 9.00 p.m. Nearest tube Fulham Broadway, or no 22 bus.
IPENZ conducts Professional Interviews in this country and many successful candidates have been able to apply for Chartered Engineer status under reciprocal agreements with UK Institutions. (See later reports in this newsletter.) Many of our long term members have conducted interviews themselves and know what standards the examiners are seeking. All members are encouraged to attend.
Our Graduate Engineers encompass nearly the full range of the profession and hence we would like as many Corporate members as possible to attend, to either provide the benefit of their experience or to learn how to further the Profession.
If you can assist or are a Graduate seeking further information or advice, please contact the Hon Secretary so that she can match up Graduates and Corporate members for possible informal mentoring. If you live too far away to be able to spend an evening in London please let her know since we may be able to find other engineers in your area that would be willing to have their own local Graduates Evening.
Remember that all time spent participating in these types of activities counts towards Continuing Professional Development For the Graduate Evening to be a success we need you all.
Our former Chairman, Ian Kirker, has passed on the following invitation to all members from Edmund Booth that may be of interest to those of you wishing to keep up to date with seismic design philosophies.
Sir Ron Carter, our Deputy President, has just been in London on business and holiday - he has been to see ICE, IEE, IMechE and IStructE. They are all talking to us about improving the linkages and the benefits for joint membership. Unfortunately, his tight programme meant that we were unable to meet him ourselves.
Currently IPENZ has reciprocal agreements in place with most of these Institutions but some offer more benefits to our members than others. IStructE in particular are setting the pace. They have just signed up for a 25% discount for joint members of IPENZ/IStructE. We are hoping that IPENZ can match this.
To emphasise the closer links with IStructE, Warwick Bishop forwarded us an extract from the September 1998 Journal of the Structural Engineering Society New Zealand (SESOC) regarding Reciprocal Agreement. A shortened form of it is given below:
SESOC hope that the agreement will enhance the recognition of New Zealand as a place that trains and develops outstanding structural engineers and contributes levels of excellence to the world body of structural engineering knowledge. The relationship with lStructE is the first step in setting out this goal. For lStructE the Agreement strengthens its presence in New Zealand and hence enhances its standing as an international body and also allows it to better serve its members there.
The Agreement brings about the following detailed financial benefits:
The Land Transport Authority is examining proposals to encourage motorists to wear helmets in cars to reduce head injuries. An Australian report showed that injuries could be reduced by 25% if drivers and passengers wore light protective helmets similar to bicycle helmets, saving the community $450 million a year. Our overseas correspondent has suggested that helmets could be compulsory for all people to help reduce head injuries, the helmets could then replace hard hats on site.
The former New Zealander, Clint Hallam, who underwent the world's first hand transplant is a convicted criminal who fled New Zealand amid fraud allegations. He is also due to appear in court in Australia early next year to face fraud charges totalling $A30,000.
Mr Hallam who is recovering from his 14 hour operation told doctors that he had lost his arm in a sawmill accident; the accident actually happened in the sawmill at Christchurch's Rolleston Prison in 1984 where he was serving a 2½ sentence for fraud. One of his creditors hoped that he would put his new hand in his pocket to pay his debts.
From November 9, Air New Zealand will fly daily from London via LA to both Auckland and Sydney. This represents a 40% increase in capacity and will alleviate the demand for extra seats over the peak December-January period.
A new poll suggests New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, would lose his seat at the next election. The poll showed that 23% of voters were undecided, but of those that knew which way they would vote, only 22% would vote for him, with National taking 40% and Labour 25%. Mr Peters won his seat at the last election with a majority of more than 8,000.
Big Ben Visit |
Thursday 22nd October 1998 |
Seismic Technical Talk |
Wednesday 28th October 1998 |
Graduates Evening |
Thursday 12th November 1998 |
Christmas Party at Australia House |
Friday 18th December 1998 |
Trips to Dungeness Power Station and Chatham Dock Yards |
Early 1999 |
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