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By Mr. Master.-Do you think, with regard to the works carried out by Government, that there is unnecessary expenditure, unnecessary cost in the way of finish? Do the Public Works Departinent put unnecessarily expensive work into buildings that would answer as well with less expensive work in them-say, any parti- cular work?
A-I don't think so. All the works I know of being done by the Public Works Department, I don't think they are unnecessarily expensive. I think all Government work should be well done.
well?
Q-Between that and throwing money away in finishing off work extraordinarily
A-No, I don't think so.
Q-Building a bridge to carry a waggon, which has only to carry a ricksha ? ` A-I don't think it is unnecessarily expensive.
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By the Chairman.-Is there anything else you could suggest ?
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A-One thing that has always struck me is that the cost of home-made material always appears to be much more than the cost of the material we get.
For instance,
the iron work for the Central Market. I was told the price per ton of it, and 1 was getting out similar things at the time which were far less.
Q-Can you give us the exact figures for the iron-work you were getting at that time ?
A-Yes.
"Q-Because it would be very simple for us to obtain the cost of the iron-work for the Central Market and compare the prices. Will you kindly obtain the information 1or us ?
A-Yes. I had columns and roof work at the same time, and I asked casually what price they were paying, and it struck me, at the time, as being much more than I was paying.
By Mr. Master.-Is it paid for by the ton?
A-Iron columns are paid for by the ton. It is made in England. Iron roof work is made by two or three firms who scarcely do anything else.
By the Chairman.-What you mean to suggest is that Government material
is too costly as compared with the material supplied to private firms ?
A-Yes.
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Q-Have you any other instances ?
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A-These wrought iron steel girders. Almost any time, during the last ten or twelve years when they have been very much used in the Colony, I am nearly sure we get them out at two-thirds of the Government price.
By Mr. Master.-Do you suggest any reason why the Government pay more?
A-I don't know why, unless they go to some special firm who know they are supplying the Hongkong Government and think they have a monopoly.
By the Chairman.--The Government gets all its supplies through the Crown Agents and it would be only fair to them to compare all the figures and to have this matter thoroughly investigated. Have you any other suggestion?
A-Nothing further strikes me at the moment.
**
Appendix No. 19.