CO129-359 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [12] — Page 339

Bushink

Laney

Cost, partly to unexpected difficulties in construction partly to extensions of the original design.

how friend refers, in due

The question whetting of works that be complimated

departementally

Ca

more

Meraria

is decided in each

an its merits, and dancgradation thaST

More

Cotoner is how

important work

in the Crown

bening executed by contractors

the result of competitive

landers

the prettyple and in this thou had. The

but receive fixed Salaries

not paid by percentage

Cr. Afcits are

Colony does not pay

раз

Then

percentage

tea

the work in Grastion, and the Cr.

Agents have weither the control of the work

any patronage in the Colony in commction there with.

Dr.

9/16

So reply. (With

refard

and to the

line 4

circuûrs. referred to

Major Cameron points out that the

cherf

were (') the necessity of immediate Commencement and 12,

tinnel

27% miles long through material the nature of which could not he

foretold with any certainly)

Mht. June 10

>

"Official Report 15 June..

! The UNDER SECRETARY for the COLONIES (Colonel Seely): The decision to construct this line departmentally was taken on the advice of the consulting en- gineers after full consideration of the cir eumstances. The increase in the esti inated cost, to which my hon. Friend refers, is due partly to unexpected diffi- culties in construction and partly to ex- tensions of the original design. The ques- tion whether such works shall be con- structed departmentally or otherwise is decided in each case on its merits, and I may mention that more than one impor- tant work in the Crown Colonies is now being executed by contractors as the re- isult of competitive tenders. The Crown Agents are not paid by percentage, but receive fixed salaries. The Colony does not pay to them a percentage on the amount of the work in question, and the Crown Agents have neither the control of the work nor any patronage in the Colony in connection therewith.

Mr. GINNELL: What was the original estimate per mile for the tunnel portion?

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that it has already cost £200,000 per mile! Colonel SEELY: I cannot say offhand That what was the original estimate. very tunnel is one of the particular points to which I referred in my answer where the amount was exceeded owing to un- foreseen difficulties.

Mr. GINNELL: How is it that in the making of the railway, the object of which is purely commercial, the commercial principle of inviting tenders has not been adbered to as is required by all other De- partments of Government and public com- panies?

Colonel SEELY: I have answered most of that in my answer I think. If the hon. Gentleman will put down another ques- tion on the subject I will give him a fuller answer on that specific point.

12. Fiddes

You may

like to see.

Put by

砒

18/6

Seen Pt. 2116

331

For soft

Fift 196

CLOVT.