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9. At various times during the period of construction of the Post Office, Mr. Fisher was employed on other work, viz.:-
Courts of Justice.
Harbour Office.
Western Market.
Quarters for District Officer, Tai Po.
Yaumati School.
Stable and Approach at Tai Po.
Volunteer Headquarters.
Mortuary, &c., Kowloon.
Time Ball Tower, Blackhead's Hill.
Underground Urinal, Peak Road. Obelisk in Kowloon.
Land Office. Tai Po. Bungalow at Tai Po.
Roof over Blake Pier.
Market, Kowloon Point.
Staircase to Ball Room, Government House.
Removing and refixing Statue of His Majesty the King.
He had for a portion of the time so employed, two qualified Engineers assisting him. It would have been preferable to have relieved Mr. Fisher of some of these works: in fact, to have divided them up among the Staff of three, each one being responsible for his own share.
10. The Committee finds in effect that a small part of the extra expense and almost the entire delay was attributable to a bad system being worked in such a manner as to aggravate its worst features.
11. Accordingly the Committee makes the following recommendations :—
(a.) The Director of Public Works should be relieved of the less important routine work of his Department, such matter being distributed among his Assist- ants; he would then be able to inspect works in progress frequently and generally to give prompt and effective supervision to all branches. (b.) The works undertaken by the Department should be under the direct super- vision of Engineers who should have sufficient power to ensure the details of the works being carried out properly, without undue reference to higher authority; each should have only such works in his charge as he can superintend effectually and he should be directly responsible for the proper execution of those works, under the general control of the Director of Public Works.
(c.) Before beginning any work a detailed estimate should be compiled and for the
larger works accurate bills of quantities made and guaranteed as correct.
Such estimates are absolutely necessary for ascertaining the cost of works and it is of great advantage to have such from the point of view of the contractor, the public and of the Government.
(d.) For the larger contracts there should be an Estimating and Measuring Branch in the Public Works Department, composed of experts trained in that line; in addition to dealing with the bigger works, the members of this branch could assist generally, thus relieving other members of the staff of duties to which they are unaccustomed,
These Surveyors could also be employed in making occasional check measurements of work, previously measured by the subordinate staff; this would tend to prevent collusion in over-measuring between subordinates and comractors.
It is desired to emphasize the necessity for the appointment of only trained experts for this branch.