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Q.-They have opportunities?
A.-They are supposed to report anything to us that does not go right. These are very poor men; a dollar or a dollar or two would influence them very considerably.
Q.-I am told that private architects here have a good many presents offered them,
I ask if that is correct?
may
A.-Well, as far as presents go, that is at Christmas time, they send you turkeys and little things of no value, which is, I suppose, a kind of compliment, but it is so small at the same time that you could not look at it in the form of a bribe.
Q.-I was told there were more valuable presents than that. Any private architect
who chose could take them.
A.—I have no doubt if you liked you could; there would be opportunities of squeezing to any extent.
Q.-Have you ever known any case of such presents being offered?
A.-No; personally I have never heard of them attempting to offer anything.
Q.-You know, of course, there has been an immense amount of talk about bribery in the Public Works Department. Do you know anything about that yourself?
A.-No, nothing myself. I have heard it rumoured outside, but rumours of course get about.
Q.-Could you point us to any of the sources of these rumour?
A.-No, I don't even know any of the sources, I suppose they come from Contractors in some way or other.
Q.-Then I think I will only ask you one other question. When the two Banks were pulled down which are now being re-built into one, the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, there were I believe three stand pipes for the delivery of water.
A.-There were three I think, I won't be certain whether there were three or two.
Q-Were any of these cut off? ·
A. Not that I know of.
Q.—At any rate I suppose I am correct in saying there is one stand pipe still open delivering water?
A.-It was yesterday at any rate.
Q.-The CHAIRMAN. Did you ever hear it said with reference to any individual member of the Public Works Department that he was suspected to have made money improperly?
A.--I don't know that I have. I have heard remarks on this kind of thing, but I have looked on them as being more for the sake of saying something. Every one is open to this kind of thing, especially from certain men.
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