.
A
622
The foregoing analysis shows the enerous proportion of the expenditure which is absorbed by supervision and Miscel- laneous Charges and it is evident that radical measuree shoula be adopted with a view to reducing this.
J
The principal cause of the excessive charges in proportion. to the results achieved is, in my opinion, the failure to let
Jontracts for substantial sections of the work to responsible
contractors. Mr. Ives has repeatedly expresssa nimself to the
effect that the rates asked by responsible contractors reme
excessive and that he could get the work done much more cheaply
by sagaging labour himself or by entering into petty contracts
wlta minor contractors. As an illustration of what is being
done in this wg', I will select one example from head Ilia,
"Earthwork", for the portion of work known as cutting No. 10.
in addition to the mere cutting, there are some protective
works being carried out in connection vizli at. In November
there were 10 accounts for this portion of work, aggregating
$1,617.09; in December, 12 accounts, aggregating #3,126.37 and ́in January 4 acogunta, aggregating $551, or a total of 36 ac- counts of er average value of $165.17. According to the ins- tructions issued to the Engineers, all the measurements for these accounts have to be made by them, the accounts themselves ure all artified by them and endorsed by the chief Engineer; they are thon stamped with an cider to the Cashier to pay the amount being filled in in writing, and this is again signed
by the Engineer.
1
All the accounts are made cut in duplicate 64* i prasute a third cory is made for filing in the Engineer's
office.
it is unnecessary for me to point out that they have
all to be subsequently audited.
At the same rate, ussuming that $2,500,000 will be expended
on work which can be let in a similar way, thers will be over
(4).
2: