The Sun THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1929 SELECTING A CITY ENGINEER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 850, 19 December 1929, Page 10

The Sun THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1929 SELECTING A CITY ENGINEER

OIX out of seventy-five applications for the position of Auckland ** City Engineer have been selected by an inexpert committee for submission to the City Council this evening for prospective final consideration. Unless the members collectively confound the prophets within their own ranks, the decision is likely to prove to be nothing else and nothing better than an extravagant exercise of municipal palaver. Unofficially, but witli the utmost confidence, it has been stated that heads have been counted within the council to such an exact computation that the acting City Engineer will be promoted to full status by fifteen votes to seven. If such a prediction deserve classification as merely prophetic nonsense, then all that need be said about it in explanation is the plain comment that councillors should not gossip so freely and so knowingly outside their administrative camp. For the sake of Auckland’s present needs and the great promise of its future expansion, it is to be hoped that the whole business of preparing for and finalising so important an appointment has not been “cut and dried” before the full talent of the council and the superior ability of available expert advisers have been exercised in a final selection. It cannot be pretended that the council as an administration witli great authority is competent in a technical sense to determine the differences between the qualifications of the applicants who survived the preliminary processes of elimination and escaped the grotesquely stupid definition of “duds.” Indeed, if the record of the administration itself were to be considered on its merit and achievements, a special congress of civil engineers might well have been established to consider the appointment of a new City Council. But the community must remain discontented with the local government it has got and possibly has deserved as the penalty for apathy for fifteen months more. Since it is the council’s duty and privilege to appoint a city engineer, it should take the greatest possible care to secure an officer with the most impressive qualifications. It is neither desired nor desirable to reflect in any way on the merits of the applicants in the short list to he submitted this evening to the council, but it seems reasonable and fair to note that, if a salary of £1,500 rising by annual increments of £IOO to £2,000 a year has to be paid, every effort should be made to secure outstanding ability and wide experience. The personal aspect of applications, however, need not be discussed any further in terms of individuality. One of the City Council’s greatest difficulties (it is said) has been lack of experienced ability to adjudge the varying qualifications of the numerous applicants from different countries of the Empire. Apparently, the distinctions between the scholarly degrees many of the applicants have taken in other lands have troubled several councillors. Perhaps this bewilderment was to be expected in the circumstances of administration. Though engineering has become an important feature of municipal needs in Auckland —and must increase quickly in importance with the City’s growth—there is not a qualified engineer on the City Council. It is rich enough in amateur engineers, so well endowed in that form, indeed, that their muddled interference with the work of the City Engineer has, in the past, driven occupants of the position either into despair or departure. No doubt the degrees of civil engineers, as abbreviated by common usage, must be baffling to some of the councillors whose knowledge of such hallmarks of engineering ability is pathetically limited. C.E.; 8.E., D. Eng.; M.E.; M.A.1.; M.C.E.; M. Inst. C.E,; A.M.I.C.E.—a formidable array. After mastering these following on diligent research, a new one held up the ablest councillors. This title was A.M.I.C.E.L Happily it was discovered that the final “I” was an abbreviation for Ireland. Then there was the difficulty of deciding whether a Dublin University degree represents something better than a similar degree gained in London. Andiso on. The whole process of selection, so far, has been a characteristic municipal farce. It should be ended this evening by refusal to make a final selection, so that competent selectors may he secured for the guidance of a foolish administration.

THE REWARD OF PERSEVERANCE

THE first test by-election since the sweeping political overthrow of last November has ended, or is likely to end, in a narrow victory for Labour. At his third attempt Mr. Nash seems about to earn the reward of perseverance, even if it is a reward snatched only by a few votes from the recurring bitterness of defeat. In moments of victory, however, the margin of majorities is not of great moment. There is no degree of shading between the political victor and the politically vanquished. The one is in, the other out, and when the tumult is over a margin of 100 votes is as good as one of 1,000; that is, so long as the successful candidate is prepared to devote the remainder of his term as far as possible to forgetting the narrow majority’s slightly unpleasant implication of another close fight next time. The surprise of the Hutt by-eleetion has been the heavy polling of the United candidate, Mr. Kerr, against the quite severe setback received by the Reform representative, Mr. Johnson. The electorate lias never been noted for Reform tendencies, and the growth of a wealthy residential district in one corner of it in recent years has not kept pace with the rapid industrialisation of a good part of the rest of it. While Reform cannot accept the result with any satisfaction, however, it is not altogether without its lessons for Labour as well. Mr. Nash was on the face of it a strong candidate, experienced in political doctrines, a good speaker, and a man witli a strong religious following. Yet, in a contest that should by these standards have been a “walk-over,” he has only just ousted the Government candidate. Thoughtful Labour supporters will see in this an emphatic reaction to the Labour Party’s obliging readiness to help the United Government out of tight corners during the past session. ' Mr. Holland has in the past year been content to be an unofficial ally of the Government, supporting it on every critical occasion for no other object than to keep the Reform Party out and, in the light of the result at Hutt, it is doubtful if these have been good tactics. It may tend to confuse the public; to cloud the line of cleavage, whatever it is, between the present elements of Liberal and Labour. Mi'. Nash, at any rate, polled 1,000 fewer votes than he did twelve months ago. There is no doubt that Parliament has gained a very able and conscientious member. Labour’s strength in the House is now raised to 20, and the Government’s nominal following is reduced to 25. To this number, however, it is safe to add those remarkable independents, Messrs. Atmore and Hogan—one of them a Minister of the Grown. Even so, Reform is still the strongest of the three parties.