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π T TĮ Į π T T T T T
PECORD OFFICE
Reference →
C.O.882/12
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ing from the Assistant Inspector or Foreman of Works through the Chief Inspector, and the Assistant Director up to the Deputy Director, and involving a whole series of overlapping inspections, appears to us to be unduly long for matters of such minor im- portance as the small repairs which make up the bulk of the work. A further point of criticism is that the nature and volume of the work of these two branches do not appear to provide suffi- cient scope for the employment of three such highly-paid profes sional officers as the Director, the Deputy Director and the Assistant Director, even making allowance for the fact that the responsibilities of these officers also extend to Irrigation, Water- works and Drainage. In the latter connexion we would point out that the Irrigation system is now practically completed, that there is only one waterworks scheme of any importance at pre- sent in hand-the restoration of a river dam which was swept away by a flood two years ago-and that the special work in connexion with the Port Louis drainage system to which reference has already been made is under the direct charge of a fully qualified Engineer engaged from outside the permanent establishment. The organiza- tion of the Public Works Department, like that of several others of the departments and institutions of Mauritius, appears to be too closely imitative of similar organizations in Great Britain, in- sufficient regard being paid to the difference in the size of the two islands and in the volume of work to be carried out. In the case of the Public Works Department the result appears to us to be a quite unnecessary separation of the Works and the Road and Bridges Branches, and a territorial subdivision of the island among the department's Inspectors to an extent which is excessive for the comparatively small size of the total area to be covered. A consequential defect of the system is that the most senior class of executive officers, viz., the Chief Inspectors, instead of apply- ing their own skill and experience to the technical work, are largely wasting their time in the supervision of subordinates, and in office
routine.
8. We consider that in the interests of public economy this wasteful system should be brought to an end, and that the organiza- tion should be placed on a more business-like footing without delay. The Roads and Buildings Branches should be amalgamated, each officer of the combined branch being required to undertake both sets of duties. The present system of excessive delegation of work and responsibility should also be abolished, and should be replaced by one of greater concentration of direct responsibility upon the senior officers, so as to eliminate duplication which results from regarding those officers as employed for the inspection and super- vision of juniors rather than for the actual performance of the work. We would suggest, as an adequate provision for the executive staff of the combined branch, that it should consist of two senior
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officers on the scale of salary Rs.6,500-500-8,000; that each of these officers, while stationed at the headquarters office of the department, would take charge of the work of the branch throughout one half of the island; that within his district he would be in personal and direct charge of all the department's work in buildings, roads and bridges; and that each should be assisted by two junior technical officers on a scale Rs.2,400-240-4,800 to be employed on such duties as he might assign to them from time to time, subject to their having no responsibility separate from his own. We contemplate that the senior officer himself would prepare all estimates and requisitions except in the case of very small repairs which might be left to his assistants to do on his behalf. The two senior officers should be immediately responsible to the Director or Deputy Director.
As regards the existing executive staff, we would propose the abolition of all supervisory posts of the rank of Chief Inspector, Inspectors, Junior Inspectors, Assistant Inspectors and Assistant Foreman of Works, retaining, however, the grade of Overseers in their present number, and also the post of Foreman of Works. The last-mentioned officer, however, should be relieved of his duties as Assistant Inspector for Port Louis and employed solely on the control and superintendence of the departmental workshops, in which capacity, when relieved of his other duties, he would no longer require an assistant.
Survey Branch.
9. This Branch, which as its name implies exists primarily for the surveying of Government lands, is constituted as follows :—
Government Surveyor
Salary. Rs. 9,000-500-10,000
First Assistant Government Surveyor Second Assistant Government Surveyor Third Assistant Government Surveyor
6,000
5,000
4,000
1,200
1,200
900
488
Tracer
Learner
Assistant Tracer
Chain Bearer
The post of Third Assistant Government Surveyor is noted in the Estimates for abolition on vacancy.
In addition to land surveys the branch deals with all grants and leases of Crown Lands. These lands are of the following categories, viz. :—
(1) Pas Géometriques.—This is a narrow belt of wooded land which encircles the whole island. It is let in small strips for summer holiday residences or small cottages, at rents rising to a maximum of 300 rupees an acre for the best bathing sites
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[COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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