Twizel backing for project engineer

Press, 11 December 1982, Page 6

Twizel backing for project engineer

PA Dunedin The Twizel Community Council yesterday backed the Upper Waitaki power development project engineer. Mr Max Smith, who claimed that he is being forced into early retirement, and a petition was launched in his support. Mr Smith, project engineer based at Twizel for the last 12 years, has been accused by his superiors of spending unauthorised public money on a rowing pavilion and control centre at Lake Ruataniwha. but no criminality is involved. He said that he was given the alternative of taking early retirement or being recalled to the head office of the Ministry of Works and Development to face disciplinary charges. The chairman of the community council. Mr Malcolm Walls, said yesterday that he was disappointed at the manner in which Mr Smith had been treated. He said that the council had written to the member of Parliament for Waitaki. Mr J. J. Elworthy, seeking answers to their questions about Mr Smith's treatment.

"It seems a departmental matter, but the people of Twizel are very upset." he said. "For a man with three

or four months to go before retirement it does not seem right to give him a Christmas present like this." Mr Walls said that the rowing complex had been opened eight months ago. and if there were some queries about costs they should have been made then. “This seems a bitter way of dealing with a man who has done so much for the Waikati Valley." Mr Walls said. The secretary of the Twizel sub-section of the Public Service Association. Mr Steve Brorens. said in a statement that the P.S.A. overwhelmingly supported Mr Smith.

"The Upper Waitaki project has created many assets for the public of New Zealand and the contribution made by Max Smith was acknowledged in this year’s New Year Honours list." Mr Brorens said that the staff on the project who had worked under Mr Smith for the last 12 years were upset that the department had treated him in this manner.

Mr George Harris, chairman of the Twizel Businessmen’s Association, said that the news of the early retirement came as a bit of a shock. He was sorry for Mr Smith, who had done a lot

for Twizel. He said that such a move seemed unnecessary considering the total cost of the Upper Waitaki project. The petition circulating in Twizel said it was felt that Mr Smith, through the Upper Waitaki power development and the Benmore and Aviemore projects, had provided recreation facilities and created areas of interest which only enhanced the Mackenzie and Waitaki. and reflected credit on the Ministry of Works and Development.

“We feel his forced early retirement is a disgusting move and wish to register our protest in the manner in which his removal from this project has come about." x Meanwhile. Mr Smith does riot see his opposition to private overseas contractors on projects such as the Clyde high damm as being behind his fall-out with, the Ministry of Works and Development.

“There are so many surmises in a situation such as this which I do not see as fair.” he said. “I see this as a clean argument in the use of public funds, and unfortunately these other aspects get into the argument. “It is better to keep this argument to itself." he said.