CO129-419 - Individuals - 1914 — Page 192

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justly ask with what result↓

Surely my time could have

been better employed than doing such clerical work time after time, and also in fulfilling the post of a Builder's clerk, while the Contractor, even during his brief visits to Hongkong, remained in bed on most occasions when required until late in the afternoon. It is obvious that, if I am writing reports, minutes, etc., etc., for so many years that other work is delayed.

26.

I submit that something more than Mr. Chatham'S minutes were necessary to complete works of magnitude.

In-

deed, it will be observed that Mr. Chatham in passing minutes can even describe the Admiralty methods as well as the re- cognized procedure of keeping accounts "as absurd and a sur- vival of some ancient practice."

I may not be very clever in writing minutes and making statements, which deceive those who are not technical- ly qualified, neither do I wish to become conversant with such methods as exemplified under clause 14, pages 8 9, and clause 18, pages 14 16, and also clause 22, pages 21 22, in this letter.

27.

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As regards the advances to the Contractor, I res- pectfully submit in view of the fact that Mr. Chatham intro- duced the system, and having regard to his methods of keep- ing accounts and carrying out large works, and the serious delay and disastrous results that have ensued, that his methods cannot be justified.

28.

It is a fact that at one period of the work I was left without any assistance at all.

During the period under review the only Assistant allotted to me resigned from the Service in October 1909,