ENGINEERS’ PART

Press, Volume C, Issue 29534, 8 June 1961, Page 18

ENGINEERS’ PART

“Instructions Firm” (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. June 7. Engineers and their representatives should be firm and decisive in their instructions so tha-t contractors fully understood their requirements and could organise the work they undertook accordingly, the Assistant Commissioner of Work* (Mr J. T. Gilkison) told a reading conference of the General Contractors' Federation in Wellington today. An engineer should maintain a natural, reserved and impartial attitude which should command the respect of the contractor and his employees. ‘‘They must work as a team in a business-like and ethical manner so that a first-class job U done in the least pos. sible time and at the least cost consistent with good workmanship,” said Mr Gilkison It was an engineer’s first responsibility to safeguard the interests of his employer. He must see a sound job was carried out as cheaply as possible with thoroughness Standard Conditions Referring to general conditions cf contract. Mr Gilkison said it would be of great benefit to all parties if a standard set of general con. ditions of contract could be brought into use and he understood some work was being done with this objective in view. Contractors and engineers had well-defined authority and duties under a contract Each was dependent on the other and co-operation between them was vitally important Because contractors were obliged to meet their expenses regularly it was important that they should receive payments promptly and it was the engineer’s responsibility to see that regular payments were made promptly. Mr Gilkison said.