body then held a meeting, at which it so happened that the two parties were equal in the chair, Mr. Chater who was absent, sent in a resolution declining to recommend any reduction in the programme, on the ground that the works provided were urgently required; & asking you to increase the staff. The resolution, couched in the most vehement style, was accepted by the officials present, carried unanimously. (Perhaps Mr. Chatham was new, was meekly and gently treated by the rest, and Mr. Messer is a passed cadet acting as Treasurer.
The P.W.C. sends resolution without comment, and merely adds, that a public works Commission appointed by the Govt. to discuss the adequacy of the staff of the Dept. will have its report ready in February.
It is difficult to understand the state of mind of P.W.C. officials, until one realises that despatch 41680 was not to hand in the Colony when the Dept. was written to. But a glance at the enormous list of public works provided for on the 1902 Estimates will show how much importance is to be attached to the views of this precious Committee. Among the items classed as urgently required are a Clock Tower, the extension of police stations, the widening of a road, the electric light installation at the Civil Hospital, minor roads in the New Territory, two Park, and a house for nurses.
As to the increase in staff, it seems Mr. Ormsby made his recommendation first (su 25364/01) and considered the necessity for them afterwards. We have been asked to select some of whom have now come from home, and others (su 36329).
The C.A. have been guided by C.A.R. 41680, we told C.A.G. "in selecting public works to be carried out by the necessity of not increasing the staff." His reply is, to all intents and purposes, that he will not reduce the