t
430
"A careful calculation showed that in the case of "European officers provided with free quarters "the increase in cust of living since 1902 was "16 per cent".
In the debate at the Legislative Council on the 10th April 1913 Hun. Mr. Bae is reported to have said "I am quite certain the cost of living has gone up infinitely higher than 25 per cent".
3.
It will be seen from the above extracts that it was part of His Excellency's recommendation to the Secretary of Stato that the quarters being built for the Overseers should be granted to then rent free.
4.
We were subsequently informed that His Excellency had G- commended that a Temporary House Allowance should be granted
to Overseers from 1st January, 1913 until the now quarters were rendy at $30 a month, and on the 23rd October, 1913, the follow- ing Financial Minute was reported.
"No. 63
Sanitary Department, Temporary House Allowancesto Sanitary Inspectors Public Works Department, Temporary House Allowances to Overseers and
Land Bailiffs
■
$4,875
$7,325,"
We understand that the latter item included Allowances to ourselves from 1st January to 31st December, 1913, hut when the other Overseers were paid their allowances we were told that we were not entitled to any.
We addressed you on this matter on the 19th November last
and received a reply from the Director of Public Works to the
following orrect
"Officers living in houses of their own are
"excluded from the housing schome and were also
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