Interview with Bill Duncan

Bill Duncan recalls family background; childhood; education, engineering intermediate at Victoria University College; work in blueprint room as temporary cadet for Public Works Department, working conditions, Miss Kitty O'Neill, first impression of Bob Semple; reference C W O Turner, R G Caigou, George Lowe, Jack Bruce, J B Rowntree; processes of tracing designs; reference to engineering degree course at Canterbury University during World War II; practical work at Lowes Foundry, Hutt Valley.

Recalls effect of manpower direction on students; on graduation directed to Public Works Department and designed roads, bridges, tunnels, water supply schemes; construction of Wellington Water Supply Scheme, tunnellers, accidents; salary as a cadet; engineering travelling scholarship to United Kingdom, 1948 - 1949, worked on two coal fired power station sites in Manchester and Braehead; discusses new ideas developed by Britain in steel construction; rationing.

Discusses bridge design in 1950; emergence of pre-stressed concrete; risk taking by Public Works Department in innovative construction of hydro works ie diversion culverts and penstocks at Benmore; problems with Matahina Power Scheme; advice sought from Department from other sources; work as senior engineer working on the enlargement of the Homer Tunnel, deaths on construction of tunnel early in 1930s; avalanches; work as senior engineer at Roxburgh Power Station 1954, effect of using contractors; overseas contractors' problems with New Zealand industrial situation; role in dealing with contractors; issue of progress versus quality; power shortages in South Island; describes works camp; reference Hugh Watt, Minister of Works; details of facilities from Roxburgh transferred to Benmore; relationship between head office and sites; social life on sites.

Recalls working on motorway construction in Auckland as District Engineer; problems of acquiring land for motorways; differences in road building compared to 1940s; geometrics for complicated interchanges; reference to Auckland Airport and big secondary school building program; role as Chief Design Engineer, Wellington 1964 - 1970; power planning procedures; shortage of qualified staff; departmental management; environmental issues especially Manapouri, Aratiatia, Tongariro; tentative plans for nuclear power.

Describes becoming Assistant Commissioner of Works in 1970s; involvement in contract dispute work; problems emerging (environmental and Maori resource issues) as member of Water Resources Council; mention of the Commission on Energy Development; George Gair, Minister of Energy; became first Secretary of Energy Ministry; setting up of Ministry; oil crisis issue; public discussion of document, 'Goals and Guidelines'; reference to 'Think big' projects; plans for Maui gas; self-sufficiency touted; greenhouse effect as an issue.

Access Contact - See oral history librarian

Venue - Upper Hutt

Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson

Venue - Mr Duncan's home at 32B Whitemans Road, Silverstream, Upper Hutt

Accompanying material - Copy of curriculum vitae; copy of 'Retired energy chief prefers sleeves-up role' from Evening Post, 14 March 1983; copy of 'Personal' column from New Zealand Engineering, Vol 33, No 4, April 1978; Copy of article 'Bill puts the icing on the energy cake: Public Sector interviews the Secretary of Energy, Bill Duncan', from Public Sector, Autumn 1979, pp 3-6.

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-001850 - OHC-001852

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 284.

Black and white photographs:-. Bill Duncan, 1988. Bill Duncan, ca 1977. Bill Duncan, 1944

Search dates: 1923 - 1988

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-004650 - OHLC-004652

An online copy of the abstract is also available to read in the Library's Reading Room