The Appointment of Dock Engineer.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 4393, 25 February 1884, Page 2

The Appointment of Dock Engineer.

The notice of motion given by Mr J. M Clark for a ro-consideration of tho appointment of Dock Engincor is a timely protest against a rotten system of favouritism and button-holing in tho soloction of men to fill important public offices. Only a few weeks have elapsed sinco tho members of tho Harbour Board, goaded by a righteous public indignation, considered it imporativo to do somothing to purgo themselves , from tho charge of mismanaging tho most momentous trust that has ever boon committed to their care With a Pecksniffian sntilllo thoy sacrificed thoir engineer. In this act public opinion heartily supported thorn ; wo can run no risks in tho execution of a work of such tremendous moment to tho futuro of Auckland. Tho Board then determined to invito applications for a successor to Mr McDonald. As soon by the result-, this proceeding was a more farce, and the gentlemen who wero induced to apply, including somo of tho best engineers in Now Zealand, havo been grossly and unwarrantably humbuggod. Their applications wcro never oven considered—thoir testimonials novel' road - tho result was a foregono conclusion. Whon the Board mot to consider tho applications, tho minority, of whom Mr Clark was ono, in blissful ignoranco of what was about to happen, wero hurried into a ballot, without discussion, and were perfectly astounded when tho result was mado known. It is needless to consider whether Mr Errington is or is not tho best qualified of thoso who offered their services to -carry out tho proposed work ; nor is it necessary to onter upon an inquiry into old disputes over tho existing dock, tho responsibility for the alterations anil tho leaks in it : tho manner of the appointment is enough to slioko public confidence, and to show the unfitness of the Harbour Board for its position. A short timo ago wo dissented from our morning contemporary's assortion that tho entire Board should bo hung, but we arc Iming brought round to tho conviction that, tho "Herald" in this instance was not so far astray after all, Mr Clark's motion, however, shows that there is still a leaven of public spirit in tho Board—that ono member at least will not shrink from tho performance of a public duty which is personally disagreeable Whether his motion bo carried or not, it will bo recorded on tho books as a protest against tho conduct of mon who cannot in public lifo rise superior to tho influence of private personal predilections. It is also only a bare act of justice to tho professional gentlemen who havo boen humbugged into submitting their talonts and reputation to the honour and impartiality of a board which has proved itself utterly unworthy of tho trust thoy roposcd in It.