CO129-419 - Individuals - 1914 — Page 189

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It was by no means a light task that could be performed in an off hand manner, and accounts extending over many years must of necessity take a great deal more time to deal with, than if properly kept during the pro- gress of the work.

In view of the above complications, it was also necessary to take great care owing to the fact that the Contractor had approached an outside Firm of Surveyors with a view of bringing a claim against the Government

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Mr. Chatham, however, considered such accounts could be completed in three (3) months, and acting on his advice the Government of Hongkong notified me on the 28th October, 1812, that if the accounts were not furnished on or before the 10th November, 1912, (this date being the three months allowed) I should have incurred a very serious responsibility - " This inferred that I was either incon- petent or negligent in the discharge of my duties, and I was exceedingly annoyed.

Mr. Chatham must have known, or should have known that it was impossible to prepare the accounts in so short

a period.

The position was aggravated by the fact that, all the retention money and security had been released under

Mr. Chatham's advice.

I pointed out, in communications to the Government,

that it was quite impossible to prepare such accounts with

any degree of accuracy in so short a time, H.E. the Governor

(Sir Francis May) then appointed a commission to enquire

into the time that should be allowed to prepare such accounts.