279
viz.:- about 10 per centum of the capital cost of the buildings they occupy amounting to $30 per mensem in the case of Mr. Logan, $20 per mensem in the case of the three Assistant Engineers, and $10 per mensem in the case of the Inspector of Works. It was held that this rental constituted only a small proportion of the "Consolidated Allowance" and taking into account the amount of the allowance was not unfair.
5.
I am aware that it is not unusual for the Construction Staff of a Railway to be furnished with free quarters, but I would submit to Your Lordship that it was precisely in view of the recurrent difficulties that the system of separate allowances or separate privileges introduces that the plan of a "Consolidated" Allowance was inaugurated. I am myself strongly in favour of abolishing all special allowances and privileges and granting in lieu an adequate Consolidated Allowance during the whole time that a man is actually at work.
6.
Finally I would request Your Lordship's ruling as to the words "when actually serving on duty", and whether prolonged detention in Hospital should be considered as actual service on duty, and if not what should be the limit of absence in Hospital allowed to count