PUBLIC WORKS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 256, 25 July 1936, Page 10

PUBLIC WORKS

Assistant Engineer-in-Chief MR. A. J. BAKER PROMOTED Mr. A. J. Baker, of the Public Works Department, has been promoted to the position of Assistant Engineer-in-Chief in succession to Mr. J. Wood, who recently was appointed Engineer-in-Chief. Mr. Baker’s appointment was announced yesterday by the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple. Mr. Baker joined the Public Works Department as an engineering cadet in 1904, serving three years on the heavy work on the south end of the Main Trunk railway. This was followed by four years of service on railway location and railway construction in tlie King Country and in 'the North Auckland district. In 1911 Mr. Baker carried out the location-of the eastern end

of the Stratford Main Trunk railway, and then put construction work in hand. In 1914 he was placed in charge as resident engineer of the newlycreated Taumarunui public works district, remaining in charge until he was transferred in 1919 as district engineer of the Otago public works district. From 1920 he was in charge of the Auckland public works district for four years, being transferred in 1924 to,the head office as inspecting engineer, which position he occupied until the commencement of this year, when he became Acting Assistant Engineer-in-Chief.

For some years Mr. Baker has been an acting member of the Main Highways Board, and is now a full member. He was elected an associate member of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1912, and has also for many years been a member of the council of the New Zealand Society of Engineers.