CO129-412 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [7-8] — Page 289

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to regain lost time,

As regards the method of keeping the accounts for the work

I have to state that the accounts during the last few years have

not been kept in such a manner as is usual in England

but I

I started the accounts

am not in any way responsible for this - in the usual and recognized way and continued so until I was instructed by the Hon. D.P.V. to abstract from the quantities

for payments to the Conyractor.

Accordingly the following methods have been resorted to:- (i) Abstracting from quantities as instructed by the

Hon, D.P.T.

I have to state that the items in the Bills of Quantities for the two separate contracts are numer- ous, and there are many thousands of figures connected with same, each representing a distinct and different value of the work. An Architect or quantity Surveyor would realize this.

It scarcely seems necessary for me to state that it is quite impossible for any one to walk about a large structure and assume that so much of the varied items of work have been carried out in one part of the building; so much of other items in another part and so on, and to repeat this process month by month and to continue in the same manner for several years and then expect to obtain reliable data during the progress of the work when required, or at the end it is obvious, that it is guessing at everything.

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(ii) At other times, I had no assistance whatever, or any one available to do the work, I then dealt with the Contractor's figures as far as possible, which were utterly unreliable and then later to bring these amended figures up to date from time to time. (iii)Measuring the work done on site and dealing with

the numerous items of work in different stages, materials allowed for eto: etc: and unravel a complicated mixture as best I could.

With respect to (1) this is a most unusual procedure o on large works and a distinct deviation from the accepted practice, the usual course, is to take average dimensions month by month and adjust during the actual progress of the work.

AB regards (ii) No further comment is I think neces- sary and (iii) all that was possible was done only matters had gone too far to bring the accounts of work executed up to date.

During the period under review the only Assistant