POST OF ENGINEER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19040, 10 June 1925, Page 10

POST OF ENGINEER.

HARBOUR BOARD DECISION. MR. HOLDERNESS APPOINTED. OBJECTION 'BY A MEMBER. A QUESTION OF PRINCIPLE. ———— \ , The appointment of Mr. D. Holdernet>;= as engineer to the Auckland Harbour Board in succession to Mr. \V. H. Hamer formed the subject of some discussion at the meeting of the board yesterday, when a member, Mr. E. W. Inder, expressed himself as opposed to the method of making the appointment without calling, for applications. The qpestion arose when the following recommendation made by the board in committee was moved: "That Mr. Holderness, the present acting-engineer, be appointed engineer at a commencing salary of £1250 a year, and that Mr. N. L. Vickerman bo appointed assistant-engineer at £7OO a year." The chairman, Mr. H. R. Mackenzie, said the recommendation was the unanimous decision of a conference of 13 members of the board. Mr. E. W. Inder said he regretted lie was unable to attend the meeting so that he could have entered an objection. He thought that such positions should always be advertised. It was sucli an important office that the board should call for applications from qualified engineers and make a selection. The position should havo been advertised at an adequate salary that would attract the best men: If any doubt existed between a strange applicant and Mr. Holderness, there should then, of course, be no hesitation in making the appointment. They know Mr. Holderness as a capable engineer, but this did not mean that other engineers should be debarred from submitting thoir qualifica-. tions and taking their chance. The salary at present contemplated would not ensure applications from the best men available. The board had a capital of about £2,000,000 and its expenditure was large. The office of engineer should be given careful consideration. Mr. Mackenzie said Mr. Holderness mado a trip abroad in 1923, and it was then understood that this, in addition to his high qualifications, would fit him for the office of engineer to the board when the position became available. Mri Inder moved that the position should be advertised, "both locally and abroad, at an adequate salary to ensure the most qualified applications. There was no soconder. Mr. Inder: I anticipated this, but I felt it my duty to place my views before the board on this question. The appointments were then formally declared confirmed. Formal acceptance of the resignation of Mr. W. H. Hamer, late engineer to the Auckland Harbour Board, was moved. It was resolved: " That a letter be sent to Mr. Hamer stating that, in accepting his resignation, the board desires to place on record its high appreciation of the valuable work done, and the -faithful service rendered during the 20 years he acted as engineer to the board. The members wish him renewed health, and every prosperity for the future." ■I I I I ■■■■ ■ I .■ I I ' "■■■« ; THE ENGINEERS' CAREERS, TWO NEW ZEALANDERS. Mr. " Holderness has been acting* engineer since the resignation of Mr. W. H. Hamer, He is 40 years of age and began; his education at ChristV College, Christchurch. In 1902 he transferred to the Canterbury College School of Engineering, where lie studied civil', electrical and mechanical engineering. He graduated" as Associate .in Engineering in 1906, - and the following year received an appointment as draughtsman and general assistant to . the Lyttelton Harbour Board. _ In > 1908 he came to Auckland as testing officer to the Harbour Board, and •in 1911 was appointed inspecting engineer. He has been assistant engineer since 1912, except during periods of absence. In Isl4 Mr. Holderness received his diploma as Associate of the Institute of Civil Engineers arid was one of three out of 159 candidates to receive honourable men- < tion from the council of the institute. From 1916 to 1918 he was retained as lieutenant of the New Zealand Engineers in charge of Featherston military camp. In 1923 he made a tour of ; the world ports. Mr. N. L. Yickerman is - 32 years of age, and was a pupil at the Auckland Grammar School.' He. received his diploma of Associate in Engineering at the Auckland University College and passed 1 as-Associate of the Institute of Civil Engineers in 1921. He was appointed to the engineering staff of the Auckland Harbour Board in 1910, and has been acting-assistant engineer since December, 1924. He was on active service as lieutenant of the New Zealand Engineers from 1914 to 1918.