0
116
*
mended salaries even at the then rate of exchange considerably in
excess of those now attached to the offices.
5.
When the rates paid to Engineers and Architects in pri-
vate practice in this Colony, of which the Government have had a
striking illustration in connection with the recent Taipingshan Ar-
bitration are considered, and that the Municipal Engineers of Singa-
pore and Shanghai receive salaries auch in advance of that paid to the
Director of Public Works in this Colony, I feel sure that His Excellen
cy the Governor will not consider that the salaries proposed by Sir
William Des Voeux were excessive.
8.
I would further point out that the remuneration received
by the Senior Engineering Staff of this Department does not sees,
when compared with the nature of the work performed and the expen-
diture on Public Works including Colonial and Municipal, equal to
that paid to officers in similar positions in other Colonies.
7.
On reference to my annual reports it will be seen that
the average expenditure on public works is about $500,000 per annua,
to this must be aided the expenditure on the Praya Reclamation, as
the Director of Public Works is the responsible Engineer for this
work though more or less of a private nature ), amounting to about
$250,000 per annum, making a total $750,000 annually.
8.
In addition to the whole of the public works, as there
exists no municipality in this Colony, the whole of the routine work
usually performed by Municipal Engineers and Surveyors falls to this
g.
Department.