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1 Overseer of Works in this Department may fairly be classed with Foreman of Mechanics in England, the pay of the former, considering the high price he has to pay for lodgings, clothes, food, should receive at least twice the pay of the latter i.e. £18.0.0 to £21.0.0 per month.
This scale would however be so much in excess of the amount at present paid that I could not recommend so great an increase although I feel certain that competent persons to discharge the duties required of Overseers of Works could not be obtained from England at a less rate.
I would however beg to submit for the favourable consideration of His Excellency the Governor the desirability of placing the pay of the Overseers of Works in this Department on a scale of annual increments extending over a period of ten years for the following reasons viz.
As a rule the Overseers are employed in this Department are picked up in the Colony and are when first engaged of little or no value but after a few years training in this Department where they have great...