This little tucked away thread is quite interesting.
@Krystal and Ivor what is the point you are trying make? We don't need licences or everyone should have one free? I genuinely can't find the point in your posts.
@ivor: A senior member of ALAE turns up at a seminar and defends his members position. Isn't that what he is supposed to do? Taken in context of the time (I am guessing somewhat it wasn't just pre EASA, it was possibly pre JAR). Are you aware that the original european proposal was actually called JAR-65 and was completely free of licences? Are you aware that the CAA in the early 1970's trialled an unlicensed system and incidents went through the roof? Personally I prefer higher safety standards.
@krystal: what are you saying, that you are so good you don't need a realty check every now and then or are you an experienced mechanic who believes he should have a licence for free but isn't prepared to work for it?