A GRIEVANCE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16142, 21 February 1918, Page 4

A GRIEVANCE.

ENGINEERS AND LOCAL BODIES

A matter of much interest to the profession was mentioned at Tuesday's conference at. Wellington of members of the New Zealand Society of Cm] Engineers. A clause in the report of the council stated that letters had been addressed to the Ministers of Public Works and Lands with reference to these Departments of the Government, advising upon and carrying out works for local authorities. . . . Mr H. F. Toogood warnily criticised what he termed the political heads or the Public Works Department in allowing the professional staff to do work for local bodies without charging an engineering fee. This was a very great disadvantage to men in private practice. At present any local body could apply for and get a subsidy, and also the services of an engineer and a clerk of works absolutely free. He strongly urged, a reversion to the system of charging; local bodies with a percentage for engineering services. The chairman (Mr J. Blair Mason) said he was sure they all sympathised with the principle of Mr Toogood's remarks. The practice referred to had become a custom, a habit: a precedent had been created, and such things died a hard death. But they did die; they must die, as justice must- prevail. It might take time. He had been- told in explanation that the engineering services were given free because a subsidy was granted, but there was no doubt that it was a political matter, and had been taken out of the hands of the engineers entirely. Something might be done when the Bill was before Parliament, and the council would be persistent in its efforts to have the matter remedied.

M'' R. W. Holmes, Engineer-in-Chief to the Public Works Department said that lie was unable to say what the' Ministers had done in the matter. He could assure his hearers, however that the officers of the Public Works Department are fully alive to the troubles members in private practice suffer from. Be and Mr Thompson were doing, i n a quiet way, all t-hev could to remedv the existing state of affairs.

The Chairman: Well, anyway, an } n _ justice cannot be perpetuated. * The subject was not further discussed.