DEPARTMENTAL HEADS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 358, 20 October 1932, Page 5

DEPARTMENTAL HEADS

("Post" Speeial Cofnmissioner.)

SUGGESTED RETIREMENT OF MESSRS. F. W. FURKERT AND T. B. STRONG REORGANISATION PREDICTED

Wellington, Wednesday. It is understood oa most reliable information and ojEBcial deniajs to the contrary notwithstanding, that Mr. F. W. Furkert, engineer-in-chief to the Public Works Department and Mr. T. B. Strq|ig, Director of Education, are retiring on superannuation at the end of the current month. These retirements will be followed hy a complete re-organis-ation of the administrative side of these branches of the Civij Service. - _ Mr. C. J. McKenzie, at present assistant engineer-in-chief will probably succeed Mr. Furkert. Mr. Frederick William Furkert, C.M.G., has been engineer-in-chief and under-secretary to the Public Works Department since 1924. He is also chairman of the Main Highways Board. Mr. Furkert was educated at Hokitika District High School, Wellington Teehnical College and Otago University. In 1894-5 he carried out road surveys in South Westland and was one of the engineers engaged in the construction of the Greymouth-Hoki-tika railway. Till the end of 1897

he was engaged upon the construction of the Midland railway and in 1898 carried out the survey of the Rimutaka deviation. In 1901 he commenced the construction of the Stratford railway just completed and later was in chax'ge of public wox'ks for the Taranaki district. In 1906 he took charge of constx'ixction on the southern end of the main trunk line and in 1908 was appointed district engineer for Otago. Four yeax's later. he was made inspecing officer for the South Island and in 1913 went on a world tour of engineering works. During the war, Mr. Furkert had chai'ge of construction works in connection with the military mobilisation and in 1919 was appointed assistant engineer-in-chief to the department. He was created C.M.G. in 1926, and has published a number of pamphlets

on New Zealand engineei'ing undertakings. Mr. Theophilus Benjamin Strong graduated Master of Arts and Bachelor of Science at Otago University, later entex'ing the teaching service as a pupil teacher at Waimate District High School. He held teaching positions at Temuka, Gisborne and Wanganui and was appointed inspector of schools for the. Wanganui district in 1904. Nine yeai's later he was appointed senior inspector for the same district and in 1920 was appointed chief inspector of primary schools for the Dominion. He filled this position for six years, when he was appointed assistant Director of Education, and later to the position which he at present occupies.