NEW COMMISSIONER OF WORKS

Southland Times, Issue 25549, 18 December 1944, Page 4

NEW COMMISSIONER OF WORKS

Mr Fletcher Relinquishes Position (P.A.) WELLINGTON, December 17. An announcement was made by the Minister of Works, Mr Semple, that after three years’ loyal and meritorious service Mr James Fletcher will be relinquishing the position of Commissioner of Works at the end of the present month. Mr Fletcher will, however, retain the position of Controller of Shipbuilding to enable overseas orders to be completed. Mr Semple said that Mr E. R. McKillop had been appointed Mr Fletcher’s successor. Mr McKillop was trained in the Public Works Department and in 1928 joined the Wellington City Engineer’s Department. He w'as deputy city engineer at the beginning of the war and has been Deputy Commissioner of Works for the past three years. He served in the 1914-18 war and during this war was engaged in training engineer units of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. In 1940 he was sent to the Pacific to establish bases for New Zealand troops. Mr Semple said he could say without reserve that Mr Fletcher had done a magnificent job, which in no small measure had contributed to the success of New Zealand’s effort. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in a letter to Mr Fletcher also pays a high tribute to the success achieved by him. He referred to the fact that Mr Fletcher’s service during the whole period had been made available to the State at great personal sacrifice of time and money, and that he had carried out his work without any financial reward, accepting only bare transportation expenses.