Interview with Jim Macky

Jim Macky describes family background; reference to 'The Macky Family in New Zealand'; childhood; practical work for civil engineering training; early interest in engineering; university training at Auckland and Canterbury Universities, early 1930s; reference to Professor Cull (?); role as engineer at Buller Gorge Railway, late 1930s, for Public Works Department; details of work of concrete technician; mentions 1938 election; reference overseers, Jim Delich, Bill Cadigon, Matt Heffernan; the compressed air operation in bridge construction; experience of the 'bends'; other major constructions; tunnelling; local rugby; reference to Mike Senior, Gordon Fraser, Archie Park.

Recalls service in World War II, building railway depots in Italy and Middle East; methods of railway construction, especially completing railway between Beirut and Tripoli; sent to Turkey to plan bases for British army; malaria; marriage; role after the war as engineer at Kaitawa and Karapiro for Ministry of Works; penstock construction; reference district engineer Napier, Jack Gilkinson; role as mechanical engineer at Karapiro; describes Jack Gilkison; final quality of Karapiro job; lack of equipment; reference to Alan Scott, 'the best policeman in New Zealand'; labour mostly manpowered; conditions at camp; Jack Gilkinson's plans for Ministry of Works' camps; visit of Bob Semple and E R McKillop.

Discusses reason for being sent to Maraetai as senior engineer in late 1940s; details of planning and mixing concrete; design of metal crushing plant for road metal; type of rock used; details of being in charge of the diversion tunnel; leakage problems due to ignimbrite; details of drilling and filling; Maori employees at Maraetai, reference Jack Judah (?), Mason McDonald, Kingi Taui, Fergie Ngatai, Joe Tairoa; problems with dam construction at Maraetai; establishment of Maraetai Scheme and village of Mangakino; dry summer of 1945 - 1946; trout fishing; the Mangakino community; how set up socially; reference to the Mangakino Hydro Welfare Association; social stratificaton.

Recalls role as Resident Engineer at Maraetai; describes George Sherman, overseer; reference to Arnold Clark, Bob Brown, Sid Drinkrow; accidents; relationship with designers at head office; role as project engineer at Mangakino in late 1950s; trip to America to look at latest construction methods and equipment; repairing cracks at Whakamaru Dam; industrial relations; discusses Len Clapham and his effect on many building sites; reference Don Ross, Jock Barnes, Basil Jones; reference to Communists; reference to Sir Basil Arthur.

Describes work as Inspecting Engineer in early sixties; work as Director of Roading; funding for Auckland motorway system; travelling; beautification of highways; describes ministers of works, Stan Goosman, Percy Allen, Hugh Watt; describes job as Commissioner of Works in early seventies; dealing with politicians; retirement; mentions being director at Tasman Pulp and Paper Co Limited.

Access Contact - see oral history librarian

Venue - Taupo

Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson

Venue - Mr Macky's home at 55 Birch Street, Taupo

Accompanying material - Copy of brief biography in Notable New Zealanders, date unknown, p 278; copy of entry in Who's who in New Zealand, 11th ed, 1978; copy of retirement notice in Personal column of New Zealand Engineering, 15 Oct 1973; copy of 'Commissioner farewelled' from Works News, Vol 4, No 3, Spring, 1973; copy of handwritten notes relating to career and aspects of work.

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-001863 - OHC-001865

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

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 288.

Black and white photographs:-. Jim and Jean Macky, 1988. Jim Macky, ca 1950

Search dates: 1913 - 1988

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