409
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
8
BE REPRODUCED PHOTOG ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSIONER THE
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAMS
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
2
While some of the cases of complaint are treated of in great fulness in the printed correspondence, it is very difficult to arrive at any satisfactory inde- pendent conclusion. Almost each point in dispute between the Crown Agents and a Colony would require detailed consideration by a person technical qualifications, so that the following sum- mary must be liable to much uncertainty.
with
By far the greater number of complaints relate to cases of delay, and the list of important Colonies making this charge is enough to shew that it is not without foundation. In many cases the delay is admitted, but the blame is almost invariably laid on the contractors.
The strongest allegations come from, Jamaica, but
8.g., see the despatch from that Colony is such a careless pro-
p. 131, duction that it is impossible to lay much stress upon Pp. 31 and it. Some of it is almost ridiculous, such as Nos. 8, 125. 10, 14, 18, 24 and 26 in the list of complaints.
61, p. 87.
Pp. 3, 87, 120.
3
In all the other Colonies where delay is admitted the blame is placed on the contractors, except in one Sierra Leone order. This excuse is justified in all or nearly all cases, but the following points are not clear to me.
In Sierra Leone (1) tools and Bahamas (3) corri Pp. 6, 86, gated iron (5) pulley block (10) lamp chimneys, further information seems needed to decide why estimates were required.
122.
Pp. 3, 87, 120.
Pp. 14-17, 21.
See p. 167.
e.g., sea 24, top of p. 80.
top of p. 92,
The Crown Agents are however wrong in implying that the time taken in sending goods to the Colony
is unfairly calculated by the Jamaica Government. The Government have used the date of receipt of letter advising shipment, not of receipt of goods, so P. 33. that the statement by the Agents that cargo boats 72 p. 89. take much longer to make the passage than mail boats is irrelevant.
P. 158.
I cannot judge whether there really was preventible delay in the case of the Stationery requisition referred P. 30. to by Jamaica, but the Crown Agents place the 68. responsibility on (and defend) Messrs. Waterlow. As the dispute turned on the point whether certain articles should be specially made or procurable from stock, this case tends to shew the advisability of more P. 153.
P.
88.
P. 136.
to obtain. In some cases delay is caused by waiting
uniformity which the Crown Agents are now trying
for a ship. If it is undue the Crown Agents consider 72 p. 89.
that the blame should rest with the shipping agents.
"
19
In British Guiana the "delay was with the Con- P. 124. tractors." But I do not understand why six weeks should have been consumed by the Consulting Engineers in considering a tender for “taaks.” An 1, p. 124.
tanks amateur would suppose that
were easily. obtained sock articles. Nor do I understand why so long should be taken in obtaining “sanitary buckets," 2, p. 124. if they were of a recognised pattern; nor why estimates 5, p. 124. were required for a hose and reel.”
In the Straits Settlements, the chief case is that of a P. 48. dredger which took a year and a half. The blame for 88-90, p.98. the adimisted delay is laid ou the contractors and the Consulting Engineers. But the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company got a similar dredger in six months. Here the Crown Agenta make a very weak retort, ssying that of course, they could have got a second dredger quickly enough, as all the drawings and patterns would have been ready. But it is not stated that the Company went to the same contmotor or used the mame design.
P. 91.
P. 131.
Pp. 17-20. Pp. 68-162.
Top of p.49.
In Sierra Leone (7) "tickets." tickets took six weeks?
I
What kind of suppose they were inetal.
QUALITY is almost invariably first class, though certain cases in which poor stuff was supplied are mentioned by Fiji and in the printed Federated Malay States correspondence; and there can be no doubt that in the latter case the Blaenavon Iron Company sent out a lot of bad rails of which, in all probability, only a part have yet declared themselves. But there is no evidence at all of negligence on the part of the Crown Agents or their Inspector, though it is conceivable that neither always makes enough allowance for the extraordinary frauds which are sometimes perpetrated by (though not necessarily with the cognisance of the heads of) firms of high reputation.
A complaint from Hong Kong as to the quality of diving dresses is satisfactorily explained as a mistake of the supplier (who suffered for it).
PRICE seems usually to be regarded as satisfactory, having regard to the uniform excellence of the goods. The Falklands think otherwise, but give no instances, and the Jamaica cases are to all appearance completely ' met by the Crown Agents; partly on the ground of varying quality and partly by the production of a confidential list of the prices of articles at which Messrs. Waterlow and Sons supplied the firm through which the Jamaica Government obtained part of its stationery. It is of course obvious that for most iron goods prices, without proof of quality, are worthless as a guide, but I do not feel perfectly satisfied with the confidential price-list. I doubt if Messrs. Water- low and Sons would give themselves away-there of truth"? may be some slight evasion or somewhere.
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economy
There are differences of opinion with regard to an emigration ship for Fiji and gunpowder for Cyprus.
The Straits Settlements point out that their Treasurer when in England approached Messrs. De la Rue on the subject of the expense. of printing currency notes, and secured a reduction amounting ultimately to nearly 50 per cent. (and this clearly 92-94, p.93. without any reduction in quality). The reply, of the
Crown Agents to this is inclined to be irrelevant,qu dynoult beers.
"
MISTAĶES are evidently very rare, and the, only Jawa cases of importance are those of the Jamaica: rolling
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