148
( 16 )
147
8
150
The Chairman. But you are going to give us a return showing what money has been spent, what part of the scheme has been carried out, and what part has not been
· carried out?
*
A-Yes.
By Mr. SHEWAN.-Supposing you have a man on your staff with whom you are dissatisfied, can you deal with him at once and dismiss him?
A-No, I can't dismiss him.
Q-Then you have to work with bad men?
A-Well, I presume, if he turned out very unsatisfactory, I could obtain power from Government to cancel his agreement.
Mr. MASTER.-The Crown can dismiss any servant without notice.
Mr. SHEWAN.-Yes, but do they do it?
Mr. MASTER.-As a matter of fact you find it very difficult to make out a specific charge against a man.
By Mr. THURBURN.-At the end of three years, officers are not entitled to any pen- sion?
A-No, not till after ten years.
1
Q-After ten years' service they are qualified for pension?
A-Yes, their past service goes towards pension.
2
Q-After three years, there is no difficulty in dismissing a bad man?
3
4
5
A-Oh no, not at all.
By the Chairman.--Taking it all round, have you found that the staff brought out from home is satisfactory?
A-Yes.
Q-Speaking generally?
A-Yes.
By Mr. THURBURN.--Regarding the efficiency of the Public Works Department, during the past two years, I remember that there were great complaints about the water- works at Kowloon being unsatisfactory. I have heard rumours that this was due to the Public Works Department. What was the cause of Mr. ORMSBY putting off any work in connection with putting the pumping machinery in proper order ?
A-I think he ought to have taken steps to have the engines attended to before he did and to have entrusted the work to some thoroughly good firm as was done ultimately. It was ultimately put in the hands of the Dock Company and they have thoroughly overhauled the engines. But, I may say, these pumping engines are of a very special type and I know that the firm who constructed them had a man coming out to some part in this neighbourhood-I forget whether it was Japan or Shanghai and his services could have been obtained to make an examination of the engines and see that they were put in proper working order. I know that Mr. ORMSBY pooh-poohed the idea, and considered it ridiculous. It would only bave cost a few hundreds of dollars.
Q-Then the inadequate supply was not due to a real scarcity of water, it was due to the pumps being out of order?
A-I am not certain if it was due to that for the whole time, but for a great part of the time it was.
*See Appendix No. 4.