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A.-Certainly.
Q.-Wouldn't it also be a saving of money to proprietors in not having to provide extra plans?
A.-I dont charge my clients anything extra for drainage plans.
Q-Do you think that any amendment on these lines would be an improvement in the Ordinance?
A-Certainly, yes. I think the time is wasted in entering up in one Department, sending by chit book to another Department, re-entering there, and sending back again by chit book. If it were all in one building, the plans need not leave that building.
The Chairman.You say that in Sydney your plans could be passed generally while you waited ?
A. Yes.
Q-What was the form of Government-was it a Municipal Government ?
A. Yes, Municipal Government.
Q-A Mayor and so forth elected by the ratepayers ?
A: Yes.
Q.-And the Sanitary Surveyor was equivalent to the Borough Engineer ?
A. Yes.
Q. And in a place like Sydney, would there be a large staff, do you happen to know ?
A.-There would be a dozen men.
Q-What class of men-would that include draughtsmen?
A. Draughtsmen, yes.
Q.-So there would be one engineer-
A.-1 only remember Mr. Sapsford as head Engineer.
Q. And would he go through the plans himself?
A. He personally examined the plans himself. I dont remember having to wait until next day. Even large plans be looked through very quickly. My assistants prepare a plan and send these plans to me at Kowloon and I send then back again. It should not take longer than half an hour with the largest plan, to see whether it contravenes the Ordinance.
Q.--If a man's time is devoted entirely to the checking of plans, nothing else distract- ing him, he ought to be able to get work through with celerity?
A. Yes.
Mr. Humphreys. What is the greatest length of time you have had your plans kept by the Building Authority or the Medical Officer of Health?
A.-Usually about a fortnight.