PUBLIC WORKS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 131, 30 November 1926, Page 9

PUBLIC WORKS

MR. FURKERT ABROAD

VISIT TO SWEDEN.

(From Our Own Corresponds.)

LONDON, 23rd October.

Mr. F. W. Furkort, C.M.G., Engin-oer-in-Chief and Under-Secretary to the Public Works Department, has returned from Sweden. His passage to London was not a pleasant one, as the ship by which he was travelling had to face a very severe storm. The captain of the vessel stated that it was the worst he had been in during the last 28 years. The ship was hove to for eight hours, and arrived at London fifteen hours late. Mrs. and Miss Furkort were bo enamoured of Stockholm that they decided to remain an additional week, and they were thus fortunate in avoiding the storm. While in Sweden Mr. Furkert visited the A.G.A. Works, from which the New Zealand Government obtains lighthouse appliances, and the A.S.E.A. Works, where certain generators and transformers for the Dominion's hydroelectric system are being manufactured. These have been sub-contracted by Messrs. Armstrong, Whitworth, and Co. Mr. Furkert was taken to the company's works at Vasteras, and at Surahamma, where tho steel is rolled, and also at Ludviga, where the transformers and switch-gear apparatus are made. In order to study the method of Government control of the water power of the country Mr. Furkert called on the departmental officer in charge of water power, and obtained a great deal of useful information. He also looked up the engineers in charge of electrification of the railways, all of whom were very kind and obliging. They not only gave him faciltiies to see a number of the sub-stations, but they permitted him to ride on the locomotives of the trains. The railways Mr. Furkert found most efficient. On two occasions he travelled long distances and found the sleeping berths perfectly comfortable and tho motion of the electric trains not in any way disturbing to his sleep. Everywhere the Swedish people were most hospitable. All tho ergineers and officials were able to talk English fluently. German and English are taught in all the schools, and porters and waiters, besides the better educatod class, have no difficulty with the English language. Mr. Furkert is remaining in london this week to be at the disposal of the Prime Minister. He has a number of important works in England to visit, but while the'coal strike continues many of these have closed down or are greatly under-staffed. ,