ENGINEER APPRECIATED.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 255, 20 September 1928, Page 4

ENGINEER APPRECIATED.

MATAMATA OFFICIAL. Romance of Roading Progress. During “ general business ” period at the meeting of the Matamata County Council, Cr. S. H. Judd (Maungatautari) took occasion to draw attention to the fact that their engineer, Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald, had completed five years of service with the council.

Mr. Fitzgerald had initiated the big loan scheme, and they could date the advance in their roading system from that date. The scheme had saved the riding funds when they had not been able to bear the cost of roading requirements, and also every councillor must realise that they got very much better value to-day than they did in those days. At the end of five years he felt that ratepayers realised that as a whole they were getting results. He had much pleasure in moving that: “ This council places on record its appreciation of the good results achieved by the engineer (Mr. Fitzgerald) during the five years that he has filled the post, and the benefits derived by ratepayers from his initiation of the county roads scheme, his technical skill in laying out and carrying through the work so # far done, and his keen endeavours to get good value for all expenditure.” Cr. E. J. Darby (Putaruru) seconded the motion, but wished to make it perfectly clear that while he fully appreciated the engineer’s undoubted ability, that official was only doing that which he was paid for. It would be a mistake to depart from the position that the engineer and the clerk, too, were paid officials, neither more nor less. The engineer had carried out his duties excellently. He sincerely hoped the engineer would remain with them, but he hoped Cr. Judd did not propose an increase in salary, as the speaker would have to vote against it. Cr. W. H. Allen: From Cr. Darby’s remarks one would think that the engineer was overriding the council. There iA.no doubt that our engineer has done good work, and it is time we recorded our appreciation.

Cr. Rollett: I fully endorse. Five years ago anyone coming into Matamata knew it by the bad state of the roads; now they know where they are by the excellence of the roads. Cr. W. S. Wilson added his tribute. The roads were the admiration and envy of people of other areas. Cr. J. Bruce thought there was nothing lost by recognising the good work done by officials. Cr. Judd gave Cr. Darby a gentle reminder that it was not the councillors’ part to give themselves credit; that was the province of the ratepayers.