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Q-Then how does the price of the Government work here compare with the prices of the Royal Engineers ?
A-When I joined this Department, we were much behind the Royal Engineers. We did not pay nearly so well, but they now have a revised schedule and, as a rule, we pay rather better than they do. But the other way to look at it, Sir, is that they give the contractor so much on when he takes on the contract.
Q-What do you mean by so much on?
A-The contractor takes a contract to go to Lyeemun and he will put on 20 per cent. for an outside district.
Q-Speaking generally, how do the prices compare and also the nature of the
work?
A-I should say there is not much difference in prices just at present. be rather more liberal, but I don't think there is much difference to speak of.
Q-And the work-how does the work, as finished, compare?
We might
A-The contractor I have is a thoroughly good one-Аи Hoк--only a little slack sometimes in carrying out work up to time, but, as a rule, he keeps good mechanics. He is a man who thoroughly understands the work because he, and his father before him, have been doing the work for the last twenty-six years with only one break.
Q-And do you think his prices are as cheap as we could get from any other
contractor?
A-For the class of work he does, I should say equally as cheap, because there is too much of the sub-contracting about some contractors. you were doing brick work, you would find too many false headers in the work. There is all sorts of schem- ing like that.
Q-Then do you think the work that AH HOк does for Government is worth the price paid for it ?
A-Yes. I have no fault to find with the present contractor in any way. As regards his class of work, he is first rate, only he is sometimes slack.
Q-In what way has he been slack?
A-In not carrying out jobs to the time allotted.
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Q-Has any penalty been imposed?
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A-Yes, I imposed one on my last bill when he was very much behind time-fifteen days at five dollars a day, seventy-five dollars.
Q-And what is the name of the assistant who works under you?
A-The assistant is Mr. WOLFE and the coloured assistant is Mr. GRANT, a very old hand in the service.
By Mr. Thurburn.-Are you only concerned with the maintenance of build- ings, and have nothing to do with new buildings?
A-The whole of the buildings. Maintenance means keeping them in repair, or you might have an addition.
Q-You have nothing to do with new buildings?
A-No. For new work that is being carried out there is an overseer appointed by Government as a rule.
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