. Section 4(g) - Conduct investigation and render specialised services to public and private institutions: The SAIEG regarded this as unfair competition. It was apparent from the wording of this clause that the Council for Geosciences would be mandated to carry out geotechnical investigations that could place it in competition with an established industry. The result would be unfair competition by a state institution against the private sector using state subsidised resources. The SAIEG believed that the resources of the Council would be better used in research, rendering of specialised services not available from the geotechnical sector, and co-operating in the education of all who operated in or were dependant on the geotechnical professions and that this mandate would detract the Council from its vital responsibilities in this regard. Furthermore, under the current wording of the Bill, the Council would be entitled to use data taken from professionals operating in the private sector at no charge and use it to compete with the same professionals. A further concern was that, there was a conflict of interest in that the Council for Geosciences was able to operate as providers of services in areas which they themselves regulate, making them both 'player' and 'referee'. The SAIEG found this totally unacceptable in any context.