"For some weeks - as His Excellency Sir Arthur Kennedy was expected to arrive on the 16th April. He had, therefore, every motive personally for not wishing to find himself involved in a painful investigation of this nature, at such a moment.
The matter, however, was essentially one of his own time. The period of the Committee of Inquiry - though extending over nearly two years - was altogether comprised in the period of his administration, whilst the reasons for taking action in the matter were specially within his own cognisance, as well as reasonably so two years ago.
258 He did not, therefore, see how he could conscientiously shuffle off on another such an investigation when the duty, or action, if any was necessary, devolved so clearly on himself.
The Honorable Cecil Smith, without going into the actual question of Mr. Monson's professional competency, yet, as illustrating the general mal-administration of the Survey Department, thinks one of the charges ought to be formed from the increased cost to Government of all contract works, by reason of the often extremely protracted delays in the payment of bundles.