HIGHWAYS BOARD CHANGES

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 151, 23 March 1925, Page 8

HIGHWAYS BOARD CHANGES

MR. G. T. MURRAY RETIRING Changes in the personnel of the Main Highways Board are announced. Mr. G. T.' Murray, inspecting engineer 'to the Public Works Department and a foundation member bf the board, is in terms of the Public Service Regulations to retire on April 80, though he may remain a member of tiie board until July 31.

Mr. Murray leaves this morning on what will probably be his last long tour of official inspection, which will be made via Napier, Gisborne, Opotiki, Tauranga, Paeroa, Pokeno, Te Kuiti, Awakino, New Plymouth, and thence to Wellington, and on his return will be engaged in drafting the first annual report of the Highways Board. Mr. Murray has been very closelv associated with the shaping of the main highways scheme from the time it was first mooted, and is one of the chief pioneers in the national good roads movement in the Dominion. Since the foundation of tl;e board his whole time has been devoted to main highways ..work, and already there have been widespread expressions of regret that the retiring age regulations should compel his resignation just as the board is getting on its feet and the public is beginning to realise the importance of its work. . ■

Mr' C. J. McKenzie, assistant en-gineer-in-chief to the Public Works Department, nqw on tour for investigation purposes in America and Europe, is to take Mr. Murrav’s place on the boatd, but as Mt. AlcKenzie will not be back in New Zealand &ill next November. Mr. J. Wood, inspecting engineer, has been appointed as acting member of the board.. Mr. J. E. Jull. a foundation member of the board, has just returned to New Zealand after ten months’ absence in Europe and America, and has now resumed his seat on the board. His place had been temporarily occupied by Mr. J. S. Connett, of Taranaki. At the last meeting of the board Mr. Connett was thanked for the valuable assistance he had rendered to the board, more especially in regard to the negotiations for the closing of tiie x toll-gates in Taranaki and for the part he took in the inspections incidental to the activities of the board.