182
( 50 )
590
592
4
5
7
600
Q-How is it that such a long time has been taken to replace the man who dis- appeared?
A-I think he went away early in October. I know we got our pay on the second day of the month and he went away on pay night.
By the Chairman.--It is only a matter of two or three months since he went? A-Yes, only two or three months.
By Mr. Thurburn.--Is there a difficulty in getting men of that class?
A-Yes, you can get beach-combers and old sailors, but they are no earthly use if you put them on a job and you have to depend on a Chinese foreman or contractor for a knowledge of the details of the work. They must be figure heads, but it is no use to put them on a Department like this.
Q--Then is the Public Works Department trying to get new men from home?
A-They are trying to get them from the Engineers. You can't pick them up here, as a rule. For the maintenance of buildings there should be a practical mechanic, either a mason, bricklayer, or carpenter. Smiths' work or anything of that sort be must have a general knowledge of. In taking on men as overseers in this Department there should be a test. For instance, if a man comes from home, they take him on, and he bas perhaps to send drawings to Downing Street. The overseer I relieved had to send drawings to Downing Street, and had to go there himself and explain them, and that sort of thing the man who ran away from me was not able to do, and I had to show him myself.
By Colonel Brown.-You are the Foreman of Works?
A-I was acting Foreman of Works.
Q-And you learnt all these things
A-I had great experience. You see, I was brought up in the building trade, so the thing comes handy to me. The only thing was being called upon to estimate, and that I did not bargain for, and also the making out of the bills. In the Royal Engin- eers we have staff clerks for that kind of work.
Q-In addition to your salary, are you allowed quarters, or have you any other allowances?
A-Yes, I have a small pension,
Q-Do you find your own quarters ?
A- Everything.
Q-What, find everything?
A-Yes, everything.
Q-$125 a month covers everything?
A-We get compensation on our salary.
By the Chairman.-You get about $160 a month with compensation. Is that what it comes to, roughly?
A-It runs about $35 a month,
Ι
Q-That makes your pay about $160 ?
A-Yes. There is one thing, Mr. President, if I am at liberty to speak, I am termed an Overseer. It is a misnomer altogether. My work here is beyond Clerk of Works' work. A Clerk of Works is put on a job and sees it carried out. If he is required to take out quantities, he has to do so-it is his business—but outside of that
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