Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 4227, 13 September 1876, Page 2

It is said that the tinkers of Banbury in mending one hole made three, and our contemporary the * Daily Times ’ follows this healing example in its comments on the doings of the Harbor Board. Had to-day’s leader appeared as a letter from the writer, in explanation of the reasons for a certain course of action adopted by him, the assertion that the Engineer “is precisely in the position of any in a mercantile house,” might have passed for the raw idea of a neophyte, clothed in a “little brief authority.” But tho Engineer’s position differs very widely from that. He is not there to act under orders of the Board, but to act with them and in some cases to direct them. He is a public servant, not a servant ofithe Board; and although it is for them to accept or reject his proposals, they themselves are responsible to the public should sound-and judicious plans proposed by him be rejected. If tho Board is entitled to respect so is the Engineer. In his particular line he is their superior, and would be quite justified in refusing to cany out instructions detrimental to tho interests of the Trust. In doing ao he might incur the hostility of some members of tho Board, and they aro quite justified in taking steps to satisfy themselves, by reference, of the advisability of carrying out the Harbor works aerrrdiug to his views. The fault in the present case ,-eema to he that some members do not uud-.rst:.nd their real position in relation to tho Engineer, nor the right way of going about a right thing. They look at thdr position ana bis through reversed

ends of a telescope, magnifying their own and under-rating his. He is their equal in position, and their superior in professional attainiMnts. It might be difficult efficiently replace him, but if one of the Board resigned another equally competent might be found in a few minutes. The difficulty should be now at an end, and would be but for such untenable doctrines as are from time to time propounded by the ‘Daily Times.’ If the Engineer failed in courtesy to the Board, those members who attacked him should remember they were not, and are not warranted in their language. Mr Simpson, as a public servant, has thus far shown himself a zealous, and, we think, competent officer, and although the public cannot approve of discourtesy on his part they will support him against insnlt.