258
( 126 )
1622
3
5
6
9
1630
1
2
ลง
3
4
Q-One idea is that the good men leave you one by one, and you get the residue? A-I reported that as far back as 1895 that is about lightly paid clerks [read letter*]. I think that still holds good,
Q-I was told at a previous sitting of the Commission that one difficulty you had was in bringing charges against a man to get rid of him.
A-Not amongst the clerks. It might apply to others.
Q-Are these on pension?
A-Some of them eventually might be earning a pension.
Q-Do you think it is a good system to get all stores through the Crown Agents?
A-That is rather a difficult matter to answer.
Q-Do you think it would be advisable to deal direct with different people in England, or even here locally, and get goods from them?
A-As far as that goes, the whole thing would be in the nature of an experiment, it would induce competition of course. As it is competition enters into it because the Crown Agents, to begin with, give the different firmns an opportunity of tendering.
Q-But if the Crown Agents are too lazy to compare different people's prices, the chances are that you are paying too dear for your stores?
A-That is possible. It would encourage competition to open it out.
Q-Is there any advantage in dealing with the Crown Agents ?
A-I can't see any advantage in dealing with the Crown Agents over dealing with any private firm. The only advantage, I think, is that it saves writing to a good many firms. You get them to do it for you, it is an advantage in the saving of time.
By the Chairman.-Is it not also an advantage, that the Crown Agents having such large dealings for the various Colonies, can obtain goods much cheaper?
A-They get 1 per cent. That is how they charge in the Public Works Depart-
ment.
Q-Are they paid commission or a fixed salary?
A-They get 1 per cent. on the returns.
By Mr. Shewan.-Then the more you order the more they earn?
The Chairman.-The Crown Agents are salaried officers, but the Crown Co- lonies are charged 1 per cent., which fees go towards paying the salaries of the Crown Agents and their staff,
Witness.-The reason I mentioned the commission, is simply because it appears, from their accounts, taking last month, their commission at 1 per cent, was only $900.
By the Chairman.- Have you ever known a case of the Crown Agents deliber- ately sending out goods to the Colony that were never asked for by the Public Works Department ?
A-As far as
remember, there have been mistakes in consignments.
Q-It was not wanted ?
A-We would not cept it.
Q-Is anything ever sent out except by requisition?
A-That is all; we simply compare every time we get the bill of lading with our
invoice.
EZ
Appendix No. 20.