AJ COM
623
15,000 accounts for this section of the work.
Contrast this with the system of letting contracts adopted by the Public Works Department and take as an illustration the Tytan Waterworks (First Section) Contract, which will amount to over $540,000. This work is nearing completion and will have extended over a little more than 3 years, say 3½ years.
The certificates of Locumts issued up to date number 34 and have been prepared and signed by the Executive Engineer in charge of the work. Four or five more certificates will clear the contract. This means, say, 40 accounts for $540,000, at the same rate, 200 accounts for $2,500,000 against 15,000 in the case of the Railway.
All petty contracts, such as those let for cutting No.19, are arranged, in the case of the Tytan Water Works, by the principal Contractor's foremen, whose pay is about $50 per month. The accounts between the contractor and his sub-contractors are of the simplest nature and have no audit to undergo.
In the case of the Railway, the foremen's duties are being performed by Engineers, who receive about $400 per month, elaborate accounts have to be prepared in duplicate or triplicate and certified, elaborate account books have to be kept and finally all these accounts have to undergo an audit. In addition to this, quarters and office accommodation have to be provided for the large staff required and special arrangements have to be made for securing the safety of the moneys which are despatched to the outlying stations.
It must be obvious that it is absurd to imagine that any economy can possibly result from the methods adopted by Mr. West. It must also be unnecessary for me to point out that the time of the Engineers is being wasted in preparing accounts for petty amounts, thus rendering it impossible for them to...
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