CO129-419 - Individuals - 1914 — Page 415

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406

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without experienced technical assistance.

appointment had "become a pressing necessity, Đị "trouble arising through having so inadequate "the store is a menace to the continued good works, "general clerical work of the Department, since offi "(unconnected with the Stores Branch) are continual "drawn from their regular duties to investigate erro "the stores, either through incapacity or carelessnes:

"times it is difficult to say which".

The appointment of the Inspector of Stores was apl by His Excellency and, since the former's aprival, a improvement has taken place in store arrangements.

The interference with the work of clarks above referred

to has practically ceased and the comfortable working of the general work between this Department and other Departments

is no longer endangered. I have stated that the appointment

of the Inspector has increased rather than relieved me of

store work and responsibility, and I will endeavour to show

how that has come about.

The Inspector has the necessary technical knowledge,

but that by itself is insufficient for the initiation of new

work. He now supplies what was wanted in order that improved

store working might be rendered possible. I have, from past

experience commercially and from the fact of having been

given official permission to inspect the store system at

H.. Naval Yard and its working, been able to form a good

idea of what will be best as regards store working for this

Department. Even with only one European Inspector much can

be done. The introduction of any new method at the store

quet fit in with the bookkeeping of the pepartment and with

Government Regulations. When I find that any such fitting

improvement may advantageously be introduced, I instruct the

Inspector to carry out the technical part of the scheme.