COP T.:
225
Hon. Colonial Secretary,
I find that the cost of hiring a launch is very heavy being at least $300 a month, and if for the sake of economy it were engaged for 3 or 4 days at a time, a higher daily rate would be charged to say nothing of the out-and-dried fixture of dates which such a scheme would entail. But the whole idea of flying around in a launch in a tearing hurry is distasteful to me. That is not the way to get to know a district, and it is not the way to get the people of the district (whose friendly co-operation is so essential) to know the Inspector.
Looking at the question from the point of the Assistant Inspector of Schools, I am filled with dismay at the difficulty of keeping him on a ceaseless and rather monotonous round unless things are made moderately comfortable for him. If he is dependent on such conveyances as he can hire (whether coolies or boats) I feel certain (from my experience of Larut and Kinta, Perak, where I had entire control of the mines over a district much larger and more populous than the New Territory) that his journal will be full of such entries as "No boats for hire, stopped 3 nights here", "could not get coolies, had to go back".
Nothing would be easier (but more fatuous) than for me to make a hurried inspection recommending grants $5, to this school and $10 to that: but unless the ground has fairly been broken by the Assistant Inspector, the money would be wasted.
I now submit a statement of the cost of the proposed boat putting everything at the highest in order to be on the safe side.
(Cost of boat including copper-bottomed dinghy and fittings not to exceed $1,900.)
Interest on $1,900 at 3%.
$114
Wages of 3 seamen at $10, $9, $9.
$338
Repairs &c.
$130
$582
or say $800 per annum, probably less than the launch hire alone would be, to say nothing of the Assistant Inspector's transport for the year.
But after all when a large sum like $4,000 is to be spent, the greatest economy is to see that it is so spent as to serve the object for which it was intended.
(sd.) E.A. Irving,
Inspector of Schools.
14/10/01
COP T.:
225
Hon. Colonial Secretary,
I find that the cast of hiring ›a
launch is very heavy being at least $300 a month, and if for the sake of economy it were engaged for 3 or 4 days at a tine, a higher daily rate would be charged to say nothing of the out-and-dried fixture of dates which such a scheme would entail. But the whole idea of flying around in a launch in a tearing hurry is distasteful to me. That is not the way to get to knowŋa district, and it is not the way to get the people of the district (whose friendly co-operation is so essentiall to know the Inspector.
Looking at the question from the point
of the Assistant Inspector of Schools, I am filled with dismay at the difficulty of keeping him on a ceaseless and rather monotonous round unless things are made moderately comfortable for him. If he is dependent on such bannpesät as he can hire (whether coolies or boats) I feel certain (from my experience of Iarden of lines, Perak, where I had entire control of the mines over a district much larger and more populous than the New Territory) that his journal will be fall of such entries as "No boats for hire, stopped 3 nights here","could not get coolies, had to go back”.
Nothing would be easier for more fatuous) than for me to make a hurried inspection recommending grants $5, to this school and $10 to that: but unless the ground has fairly been broken by the Assistant Inspector, the money would be wasted.
I now submit a statement of the cost
of the proposed boat putting everything at the highest in order to be on the safe side."
(Cost of boat including copper botton dinghy and fittinga
not to exceed $1,900.)
Interest on $1,900 at 36.
$ 114
Tages of 3 seamen at $10, $9, $9
$ 338
Repairs dc.
130
$5,70
or say $800 per annus, probably less than the launch hire alone would be, to say nothing of the Assistant Inspector's transport for the year.
But after all when a large sum like $4,000 is to be spent, the greatest economy is to see that it is so spent as to serve the object for which it was intended.
(sa.) EA. Irving,
Inspector: of Schools.
14/10/01-
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