587
shortly although as we have not yet estimated it, it is
possible that the cost may be covered by this amount
of $15,000. Briefly it will be impossible to finish
the Kowloon Barracks item within any reasonable period
or to get on with them at all next year.
45
7.
If it should be considered that the War
Department expenditure on the Military Works Loan
should proceed pari passu with the Colonial contribu-
tion, similar hindrances to the progress of the works
will beset us in future years.
8.
Such long
delay will not only be most pre-
judicial to the service, but will also inevitably
result in increased expense both to the War Department
and to the Colony. Pot it is a well established princi-
ple of Engineering experience that hardly anything
conduces more to increased expense than the keeping
of works long in hand For economy it is necessary
that any work once started should be pushed through
from start to finish with all reasonable speed.
9.
I am therefore venture to submit that the
only way to finish these services within any reasonable
time or with any proper economy will be to push on
with them as fast as the plans &c: can be prepared,
charge