THE CITY ENGINEER HONOURED

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 156, 27 March 1919, Page 6

THE CITY ENGINEER HONOURED

CHIEF OFFICIAL'S MULTIFARIOUS DUTIES IN A , 'DIFFICULT" CITY His AVorship the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) entertained the members of tlio City Council and the chief officers of tho corporation at luncheon in tho Royal Oak Hotel yesterday in the especial honour of the City Engineer (Mr. AV. H. Morton), who is leaving for America and England next week in the interests of the city. After a capital luncheon tho Biiesls, to the number of thirty-four, adjourned to the large commercial room. After the usual loyal toast was honoured the Miii-or (Mr. Luke), in proposing the health of tho guest, said that AVellington had been particularly fortunate in having as city engineer one who possessed the thrco essential qualities to make a success of such a position. Ihe first was integrity, the second capacity, and the third energy. These three features were embodied in the characcer and fibre of Mr. Morton, and had been proved to the fullest extent since he had been in AVellington. He had come to AVellington fifteen years ago. ihe city was not so extensive then as now, and the tramway undertaking was only laid down ii; the old part of the city. He had to extend it out to Kilbirnie, Brooklyn, AVadestown, Lyall Bay, and Miramar, and ns they all' knew hful serious topographical difficulties to contend with, which those who undertook the earlier part of the construction never had. In giving his meed of praise, he wanted to snv that had Mr. Morton been concerned with tho tramway construction works from the first, they would have been equal, if,notsuperior.'to what they were. (Applause.) Ho said that without detriment to those who had been in chareo of tho works before Mr. Morton came. In connection with the electric light department, Mr. Morton had been a strong factor. They had determined some years ago that it was necessary for continuity of control that the City Engineer should bo the tramwars manager and head of the electric light, and while it was possible that, as the city grew much bigger, he would have to relinquish some of those important offices, ho wished to pay tho tribute to him that during the period mentioned he had realised his responsibilities and: given absolute tatiofaction. (Applause.) He thought, too. that he would be justified in mentioning wator and drainage. There was no city in any other part of the world that offered such difficulties to the laying down of a water servico and drainage system, yet the city was splendidly equipped in that respect. The scheme had employed three engineers, but no one would say that To Aro flat, tho Terrace, and Newtown offered the difficulties presented in the ground that Mr. Morton had had to cover, with hills between (>(K) and 700 feel; high, all made absolutely safe and secure as far as water and drainago were concerned. The drainage vystoni was one of the beet that could have been established. The same could be said of the wnter supply, not only of the present but of the future, on which Mr. Morton had lately presented a very valuable report, which took into consideration the outlying portions of the district that wero being brought into the city, 'l'hat scheme showed Mr. Morton to be a man of all-round capacity. At Home and elsewhere the cities had what they called a city surveyor, and, in addition, a special engineer for water, and another for drainage, but the community here had thrown the whole weight on Mr. Morton. It was needless to say that he could not have got through the work without a capablo staff to assist him. Tho staff had done its work well. It was because Mr. Morton had been a great organiser and a faithful servant that the city was as it was to-aay. (Applause.) He had no particular wish to say much on the point, but certain definite responsibilities rested with them. This was the Empire City, and it oiwht to be the biggest and best in the Dominion, and he could assure the authorities of outlying districts that a general linking up would be in the interest of economical administration and more satisfactory municipal government.

Paying a. tribute to the staff of the ( City Council the Mayor said he had worked hard for superannuation, and expressed regret at the elimination of men over 60 years of age. If they realised their responsibilities to the men from overseas, was it too much to ask the citizens to remember the men who had j.j fought for the city? The council, he hoped, would extend the privileges o f „ superannuation* so that there would be i no discrimination. The council did pass a resolution practically pledging itself to ! j. ( fulfil the obi fcjtion to such employees. but it was not on business lines and he i ( would like to see all the old servants, ; from the head officials to roadmen, get ' their duo, so that when they arrived at the evening of their lives they would not he cast on the charity of the community. The lime was not far distant when, on a basis of pure humanity, men would have to be paid when sick. It had been 2 suggested that that would give rise to a certain amount of malingering, but that would hit back against the man himself. With the social upheaval tak- r ing place all round them, the t continuance of their duties to t heir employees should never cease, e In indicating the high esteem t in which Mr. Jtorton was held by his i colleagues, tho Mayor said that they had I a "straight" man to deal with, and ho could go away confident that those ho left 1 behind would attend to the requirements I of- the city to the best of their capacity. ] Ho conveyed his best wishes to Mrs. 1 Morton, and was sorry that she was not I ncconipnnying the City Engineer abroad, ; Mr. Luke also referred to the presence i at the function of Mr. ■ Hubert Morton ] (son of the City Engineer!, who had iust 1 returned from the war. He extended to ; him a hearty welcome, and hoped that J he would enjoy continued happiness and prosperity. (Applause.) Mr, Morton in Reply. Mr. Morton said that councillors received so many communications from him in the course of tho year that they would not expect him to say much. Ho thanked the Mayor for his kind 'omarkfe and for tho way tho toast had been received. Referring to the topics touched upon by the Mayor, Mr. Morton said he had been, here now for fifteen years. Ho had come | knowing only one man in Now Zealand, and, frankly, when he came, he did not like" the place, but after fifteon years he was perfectly happy and contented. He had been very fairly treated by the council and public, and had enjoyed tho loyal support of every officer. When pi c lcoked hack and remembered what Wellington was like fifteon, years ago, and went round it now, one must realise that some pretty big work had been done. It was "oing on quietly all the time. In fact, he was inclined to think at times that the council rushed on with improvement works to the detriment of maintenance, as nono of the works tvere carried out with loan money. Since tho city improvements (wood-blocking) loan of 1901 not a pennyworth of expenditure on

works in tlio principal portion of the city had como out of loan moneys. Some of 'the outlying districts had so benefited, but tho improvements made in the city proper had come out of rovcmio-the. lates. He was inclined to think that Ihe question of making improvements out of revenue would prevent tho council making os many improvements in the future as they hud in the past, lie flunked the council for tho opportunity they were giving him of making the trip Ho had not sought it, nor suggested it. His Worship the Mayor nnd others had spoken of it. but it had been in his mind for many years. He had always felt at: « disadvantage in talking to engineers who had injoyed the (idviuitiigt's of travel, and felt Hint I here was Pimicthing lacking on that account. ■ Heading and experience wero good ; friends, but to give a decided opinion I on big works of, interest one wanted to ■ see them ns carried out in other coun- • tries. He hoped on his return that the i council would find him well up to date. : and that the information he would ncciuiro would be of beuefit to the city. One question that interested him great- . ly was the organisation required on big i works, and what was the Iwst method 3 1 of organisation when the activities covered a large area—what was the proper

be is of administration required for .1 city. Ho would do his best to'learn all Hint was worth learuing, and whut to avoid. He felt that duri.ig his absence the work would go on satisfactorily, and ihe officers who had bean given new responsibilities would respond nobly to tlio demands put upon them. He also thanked tho Mayor for his kind rei'ertnecs to his wife and son. (Applause.) Councillor AV. H. P. Barbor ■ proposed tlio health of the staff of the City Council, to which Mr. J. M. Morice, Assistant City Engineer, responded briefly. Mr. Morton will leavo Wellington for Auckland en route to America on Wednesday next.