CITY ENGINEER TO RETIRE

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23002, 23 April 1940, Page 10

CITY ENGINEER TO RETIRE

SERVICE ENDS IN 1941 MR E. SOMERS WILL FILL VACANCY The pending retirement of the CityEngineer, Mr A. R. Galbraith, and the appointment of the assistant-engineer, Mr E. Somers, to his place were announced at the meeting of the Christchurch City Council last evening. Mr Galbraith’s term of office ends on April 1, 1941. The council decided, in the meantime, to send Mr Somers abroad to gain first-hand knowledge of modern developments in civic engineering problems. The waterworks engineer, Mr A. H. Jecks, will become the as-sistant-city engineer. The works committee of the council made the following report to- the council last evening:— “At the last meeting of the committee, the city engineer drew attention to the fact that he had now

entered upon the last year of his term of office as he was due for retirement on April 1, 1941. The committee submits for the council’s consideration the desirability of filling his position as well as the question of staff rearrangement that would be contingent thereto. It is suggested that the assistantcity engineer (Mr E Somers) should be promoted to city engineer; the assistant waterworks engineer (Mr A. H. Jecks) to assistant-city engineer, and this procedure would be in accordance with the council’s policy regarding staff promotion. “The city engineer and the assistantcity engineer have had an intimate professional association covering a period of no less tnan some 18 years, and the latter officer has by his meritorious record of good service and devotion to his onerous duties shown himself to be well able and worthy of becoming head of the council’s works department. The work of the other

officer named is also sufficiently well known to the council as to render any details thereof unnecessary at this juncture. . , , . “The city is extending its boundaries, and in the near future one of its sea lungs, New Brighton, will be absorbed. This will mean much extra work, and a readjustment of the department’s activities to meet the situation arising therefrom. The assistantcity engineer should therefore be given an early opportunity of visiting Australia, Canada and America, to study the latest phases and developments pf municipal engineering and organisation there, as such experience would be invaluable in dealing with the growth of this city and its Increasing needs. Should the council approve of the course indicated, arrangements should be made to give effect to such proposal as soon as possible so that it may be covered during the remainder of the tenure of office of the present city engineer.” It was decided that in the meantime, Mr Somers be sent bn a visit to Australia, and that an extended tour be left until conditions overseas are more settled.