CHAIRMAN S ADDRESS. XXI. 



out their own works, subject to the approval of the 

 Local Government Board (as in Great Britain), and the 

 due payment of the interest. If the existing loans on 

 these services were converted into debentures, guaranteed 

 by the Government, they would become a very popular 

 form of investment, and the Government would be under 

 no risks except such as could be provided -for by power to 

 appoint a receiver in case of default. 



During my recent visits to New Zealand I took the 

 opportunity of studying municipal life there, and I found it 

 much broader and more comprehensive in scope and aim 

 than anywhere in Australia. There the tramways, electric 

 light and power, gasworks, water and sewerage, public 

 parks and gardens, besides other services, are all con- 

 structed by and under the control of the municipality. 

 The organisation of all municipal services, including those 

 I have mentioned, as properly belonging to the munici- 

 pality, is the duty of the municipal engineer, and is one of 

 the problems Australian engineers of the future will be 

 called upon to deal with when the higher municipal life is 

 reached. 



A brief glance at the duties of a modern municipal 

 engineer will reveal the extreme complexity of his duties. 

 They embrace the construction and maintenance of streets, 

 tramways, electric lighting and power works, water supply, 

 sewerage and sewage treatment, gasworks, sanitation of 

 streets and dwellings, collection of garbage and the con- 

 struction of garbage destructors, the organisation of fire- 

 fighting appliances, the building of markets, abattoirs, fire 

 stations, or perhaps, even a town hall. The carrying out 

 of such duties requires a master mind for directiug and 

 controlling a large staff of skilled assistants, and a broad 

 capacity for dealing with every phase of engineering, and 

 involves years of preparation of the highest training. But 



