Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 232

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increase in the work of the Department within the past two or three years. Executive Engineers are wanted, in fact, the staff all over is insufficient.

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Q- -You mean that the only way to get over the difficulty is to increase the staff ?

A-To increase the staff—that is so.

Q-That brings me to the question of the increase of the staff, and in connection with this I do not know whether you remember the enquiry held by the Retrenchment Committee in 1894 ?

A-I remember it, but I was never called before the Committee.

Q-In that report the Retrenchment Committee stated that, considering the size of the Island and the public works being carried on in the Colony, the staff was far too great and expensive. That was in 1894. What changes have taken place in the staff since then?

A-The only change, I think, is that there have been two additions to it since then. In 1894 the engineering staff consisted of three Executive Engineers, four Assistant Engineers, and two Draughtsmen-a total of nine. Prior to Mr. COOPER'S departure for Ceylon, he added one Assistant Engineer, bringing the total up to ten. I am confining myself purely to the engineering staff, and at the present time I think it totals eleven, comprising an Assistant Director of Public Works, three Executive Engineers, six Assistant Engineers, and one Draughtsman. That is eleven members in all.

Q-And from what you have said, I take it that you do not consider the staff of the Public Works Department sufficient at present, although the Island is small, as pointed out by the Retrenchment Committee?

A-It is a ridiculous statement. Take the City of London, which occupies an area, I think, of about a square mile. It would be absurd to say that because its area is limited there is little work to be done in it.

I see that in the Report of the Retrenchment Committee there is a return showing the value of the works done from 1882 to 1893. Could you furnish us with a report up to date? It would be useful as showing how the value of the works has increased.

A-Yes. It is appended to the document marked "Notes for the Public Works Commission."*

Q-With regard to this increase in the staff, I notice in the papers† circulated amongst the members of the Committee that your opinion and that of your predecessor, Mr. ORMSBY, seem to be different. Mr. ORMSBY, when asked-I remember the Unoffi- cial Members raised the question of the staff-said it was practically sufficient with the addition of a Land Surveyor and an extra Clerk.

A—Yes, he said something of that sort. I disagree with that opinion entirely. Q-And what increase do you consider necessary?

A-I think, to meet the present requirements, there should be a Director of Public Works, an Assistant Director of Public Works, five Executive Engineers-Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH's appointment as such has been approved, and that makes three at present-and some Assistant Engineers as well.

Q-How many?

A-Another three, I should say, making 9 Assistant Engineers in all.

*See Appendix No. 2.

No. 3.

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