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Q. Do you think, taking the quality of the work into consideration, that the prices are high?
A.-No; taking the quality of the work into consideration I don't think they are at all high. We certainly get work done cheaper, but it is not of the same quality.
Q.-Then arises this question, is the quality of Government work needlessly fine for the purpose?
A.-Well, I cannot say anything about that. I don't see how I could be called upon to answer a question of that kind. If the Government pays for that quality they are entitled to have that quality. If you go in for first quality work in the first instance it saves you a lot of money afterwards for repairs. In private practice you cannot get your clients to look at things from that point of view. They want things put up as cheaply as they can.
Q.And they don't regard eventualities?
A. They say "what is the use of providing for five years hence? Probably we shall not be here, or we may have sold the property in the meantime."
Q.But there may be works too expensive for the purpose, as for instance if a man made a floor of rosewood. Have you noticed any Government work needlessly fine for the purpose it is intended for?
A.-No, I don't know of any. I cannot call to mind any work too good for its purpose. You see the Government here is supposed to provide for the future.
Q.-Then arises this question. We are told some Contractors will not work for Government at all. We are told, for instance, that the man who is building that large bank for the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank won't have anything to do with Govern-
ment work.
+
He is a man
I
may
A.-I don't know. That same man won't work for me now. say I trained. He is the same man who built the Oriental and Chartered Mercantile Banks, and the P. & O. offices, but he won't work for me now, because he says I am too particular, and I suppose he thinks the Government is too particular.
Q.-That is the reason he gives?
A.-I know that is one reason; but as a rule Government Contractors are all in a clique; there is one set. Some time ago, when I was in the department we found out a set like this, and we bowled these men out altogether and got tenders from outside
men.
Q. And were they lower?
A.-Much lower. I forget what the work is just now, but I know there was something of that kind done. I think it was when Mr. PRICE was here, and when he heard of it we set to work and got tenders from outside.