PUBLIC WORKS OFFICIAL

Northern Advocate, 5 November 1932, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS OFFICIAL

AIR McKENZIE’S APPOINTMENT. SUCCESSOR- TO AIR FURKERT. (From Our Parliamentary Special.) WELLINGTON, This Day. It was announced yesterday by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coal os, at a farewell function tendered to Mr P. W. Purkerl, who retired from the position of undersecretary and engineer-in-chief of the department as from the end of last month, that Air C. J. McKenzie had been appointed to fill the vacancy. A comprehensive overhaul of the department is being made at present, and it is probable that the position of en-gineer-in-chief, also held by Air Fnrkert, will be the subject of a further appointment. In the meantime, Air McKenzie will carry on the duties of enginoer-in-eliief.

It is understood that this appointment has been made in accordance with the recommendation of the National Expenditure Commission that future heads of departments should be chosen on account of their administrative ability, as distinct from thc-ir professional capacity.

“REMARKABLE MAN.”

RETIRING OFFICER EULOGISED. (Special to "Northern Advocate.") AUCKLAND, This Day. There was a. very representative gathering at the Public Works Department yesterday, when warm tributes wore paid to the ability of Air F. W. Furkert, the retiring engineer-in-chief and under-secretary. Air C. ,T. AlcKeJizie presided. “I am proud to have been associated with a remarkable man,” said the Rt. Hon. .1. G. Coates. “Air Furkert, by sheer determination, rose to the top of the tree. As time went on, and the people of the Dominion looked back on what had been accomplished they would realise that the pioneer work done by Air Furkert and his associates had been well and faithfully carried out.

3? e for ring to Air Furkert’s personal qualities, Air Coates said lie was as straight as a gun -barrel. Ho had served the country to the utmost. The speaker personally owed a lot to him. On behalf of the department throughout New Zealand, Air Coates -presented Air Furkert with a magnificent grandfather clock in an oak case with an inscribed silver plate, also a pocket wallet, and a fountain pen with a propelling pencil to match. The Hon. C. E. Alacmillan, actingAlinister of Public Works, expressed his high personal regard and esteem for Air Furkert.

Air Furkert said that during his service of nearly 39 years he had seen the department grow to eight times its size when he joined it. AVhen one had been associated with an organisation that had been growing and growing all the time it was not pleasant to see it begin to shrink, and he hoped that in considering further economies, the government would remember that a spending department was the first, to feel the axe, and that the efficient officers in it merited equal consideration with officers of other departments.

Air AtcTConzie, who is 54 years of age, was bom in Dunedin and was educated at Otago Boys’ High .School. He .joined the Public Works Department as engineering cadet in 1597. Ho was engaged on the Alidland Railway Constructive work until 1900, when he went to the north end of the North Island Alain Trunk works. He became an assistant engineer in .1902 and worked on various points on the main trunk line between Poro-o-Tarae and Oliaknne. After the rails were linked up in 3DOS he was placed in charge until the line was handed over to the Railways Department in February, 1909.

Ills assignment was in charge of the Taranaki and Alain Trunk districts, in which construction of the Stratford main lino and the Alt. Egmont branch railway was in progress. He was then placed in .charge of the whole of the railways and roads in Taranaki, Wanganui and To Kuiti districts. The eastern end of the .Stratford Alain Trunk Railway and the Raetihi branch railway were begun about this time, and in IS) 10 .Mr Ale.Kenzie was promoted resident engineer. In 1913 he was transferred to Wellington as relieving officer to assist the engineer-in-ciiicf, and he held t his position until promoled in 1.015 to he district engineer lor Otago ami Southland. Air .McKenzie became .stall' engineer in Wellington in 1919, and in the following year became inspecting engineer and then assistant engineer-in-chief. He is an associate member of the Institute of Civil Engineers and a member and past I’resident of the N.Z. Society of Civil Engineers.