than that of the Police beigeaud and the stule Mutiueter from the Garrison combined, the same economy could be effected by reducing the establishment of the Force by one Sergeant or Private, and obtaining a specialist for the charge of the Stores and drill instruction.
2. The question then arises, would the latter course increase the efficiency of store supervision and drill instruction, as well as promote economy especially in the issue of stores. I am of opinion such would be the case, provided an experienced man is obtained.
3. From personal knowledge I can state the system of placing Police in charge of Police Stores, was not satisfactory and was wasteful.
4. The Police Stores, consisting of annual clothing, materials for clothing &c; Arms (Rifles, revolvers & surplus) ammunition, and a variety of other stores, amount to almost as much as those of a Regiment, for the custody & supervision of which a Quartermaster, Quartermaster Sergeant & clerk are found to be necessary - a Policeman, with no experience of such work, cannot efficiently take charge of these, keep all the issues and account books balanced, take stock periodically and prepare the annual requisitions.
5. I will mention a few instances to show the loss and confusion that may arise from the inexperience of storekeepers.
6. When I first took over the Police at Hong Kong and began to investigate the condition of the Stores, I found considerable confusion. The books often did not tally with the Stock, the ammunition book was not made up - no one knew exactly what stores and what ammunition should be on hand, and there was no certainty that stores had not been pilfered by native servants. It was necessary to start new books and often to assume the stock as found to be correct. But this was not all. Certain stores such as material for making up clothing, crockery, & others are issued on payment to those requiring them. In examining into the prices charged I found that the London tradesmen's bills as rendered to the Crown Agents were used as the basis, the prices converted into dollars at the official rate of 4/2 per dollar, and the stores were sold at these rates, while the dollar was actually worth 3/-(about) thus, what cost in England 4/2 was sold at the Hong Kong Police Stores at a dollar or more for the cost of freight, no percentage was charged for contingencies - in fact for years Police stores had been sold at a loss to Government of at least 35 per cent, and I suppose thousands of dollars were so lost, without, I believe, any officer of Police being even aware of its ever having been observed by the Colonial Auditor. This was due to carelessness & want of method on the part of the Police storekeeper and could not have happened had an experienced Quartermaster Sergeant held the post of storekeeper. The bills also for stores served had not been properly checked.
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than that of the Police beegeaud and the stule Mutiueter from the Garrison combined, the same economy could be effected by reducing the estaderia. ment of the Force by ous lupaus or Puvate, and obtaining a specialist for the chase of the Stores and dull instruction.
2 The question then arises, would the latter couces increase the efficiency of store dupervision and direct instruction, as well as promite economy expecially in the issue of stores. I am of opinion such would be the ease, provided an experienced man is obtained. 3. From personal knowledge I thar the system of placing Police in chage of Police Stores, was not a and was wasteful.
A
4
am able to state
Sugeant a Private of
dures,
4 the Police Stores, consisting of annual clothing. materials for clothing &c; Arms (Rifles recolours t surrus) ammunition, and a variety of other stores. amount to almost as much as those of a Poutend Regiment, for the custody & supercision of which a Quaitu Master, Quaidh Master legeaub & clich are forend to be messsary - a Policeman, with no experienes of such work, comment efficiently take chase of theses, heep all the issues and usupt books haluues them, take stock percodically and fere pare the annual requisitions.
will mention a few instances to show the loss and confusion that may arise from the tences of inexperienced ste bespers
6. When I just took own the Police at Horry Hong. and began to investigate the condition of the Stores
->
I
to start
found considerable confusion. The books often
621 dist not tally with the Stock, the ammunition book was not made up - no one knew exactly what stores and what ammunitiere should be on hand, and there was no certainty that stores has not been piefered by natier dewants. It was necessary new books and often to assume the stock as found. to be correct. But this was not all. Certain stores such as material for making up clothing. crockery, & others are issues on payment to those requiring them. In exanimning into the prices charged I found that the Loudon leadermens bills as rendered to the croire apents wen tebui as the basis, the preces converted into dollars at the offeral ate of 4/2 per dollar, and the stores were sold at there rates, while the dollar was actually worth 3)_(about) thus, what cort in England 4/2 was sold at the Hong Hory Police Stees at a dollar or made for the cost of freuht, no per centage was 3/ chaye was added for continpncies - in fact for years Polies stores had been sold at a loss to Gourment of at least 35 per cent, and I suppose thousand of dollars were so lost, unthout I believe any office of Polier buny
enes even aware of its ever having been observed by the Coloreal Auditer. This was due to care hasues & wand
720
it and unthous
of Munolize on the past of the Poker store keeper and could not have happened had an experienced Quarter Master Supeant held the Pas of there beeper. The bills also for steres sved has not been copularly
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