{
losure 2.
จ
278
3.
In Mr. Southey's Agreement on the
other hand no specified sum is named, the allowance is to
be similar to that paid to Government Officers of like
standing and is available when the Officer is "away from
Head Quarters on duty". The allowance that has been allott
-ed to him is at the rate of £100 per annum. The "Consoli
-dated Allowances" granted to the five Officers named and
to the Inspector of Works, who is not serving under Agree-
-ment, are shewn in the enclosed statement. They are much
higher than the travelling allowances drawn by Officers of
the Public Works Department of this Government and in view
of this fact it was considered by the Officer Administering
the Government that the Consolidated Allowance was intended
to include House Rent or Lodging Allowance.
3.
Mr. Eves, the Chief Resident
Engineer, contends that this was not the intention, and I
have now the honour to request information on this point.
4.
The Officers named with the
exception of Mr. Eves reside on the works along the line
in quarters erected for them out of Railway Funds, and it
was recently decided by the Officer Administering the
Government that in order that they should not receive
exceptional treatment, they should be charged a low rate,
viz.:-