AUCKLAND'S CITY ENGINEER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1178, 13 July 1911, Page 4

AUCKLAND'S CITY ENGINEER.

THE MAYOR REPLIES TO MR. MYERS. (By Tclegraph.-Specinl Correspondent.) Auckland, July 12. Replying, per medium of an interviewer, to Mr. A. M. Myers's protest against tho rumoured dismissal of Mr. W. E. Bush from the position of City Engineer, (ho Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) said to-dav that tho question of whether Mr. Bush should go to tho Drainage Board or remain with the City Council was still before tho council, and had not been finally settled. It was true that a sugg<v tion had been made that he should go to the Drainage Board. On the other hand, Mr. Myers now suggested that Mr. Busa should bo retained for tho city, and tho Drainage Board should find a new engineer. This aspect of tho matter, said Mr. Parr, would no doubt be carefully, oousiderod by the council before the question was finally decided.

"As to tho suggestion that Mr. Busli is to bo condemned unheard," said Mr. Parr, ''I am suro nothing was further than such a thing from tho,mind of councillors. Mr. Bush will have fair play. It is said that u grave injustice would bo inflicted 011 Sir. Bush by transferring him to the Drainage Board, seeing that Mr. Bush's salary under such an arrangement would probably remain at .€I2OO a year, and that he would bo entrusted with the by far tho most important and complex of all local engineering duties, namely, the carrying out of our big sewerage scheme, it is difficult to see where the alleged degradation comes in either as regards emolument or status. I imagine most engineers would consider tho billet one of the very rare plums ill the profession, and there aro many reasons why Mr. Bush should not desert tho drainage scheme. Practically, it is his scheme. He has started it, it is well under way, and it is good sense and good business that lie should bo responsible for it and finish it. To bring an entirely new engineer in, who might have other ideas, and to give him control, is a course which has many evident objections. Tho early nud successful completion of this scheme is vital to tho community."