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Q-And did your work as head draughtsman give you experience of buildings?
A-I was about five years in the office and about three years outside. I have done drawings for Her Majesty's theatre. I was engaged in London as Clerk of Works and Inspector of Buildings by Mr. PoWNELL, and I understood my duties were to be quite different from what I found them on arriving here.
Q-What were you told your duties were to be?
A-I was told I was to be an Overseer and Clerk of Works. Mr. PoWNELL told me that an Overseer on a Government building was equal to a Clerk of Works.
Q-Mr. PoWNELL represents the Crown Agents ?
A-Yes.
Q-And what did you expect your duties would be?
A-Those of a Clerk of Works.
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Q--And what did that comprise ?
A-On a building itself, working for the Government.
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Q-Instead of inspecting buildings ?
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A-I thought my work was to be on a Government building.
Q-Under what Ordinance do you act as Inspector of Buildings?
A-Ordinance 15 of 1889.
Q--Are you the only Inspector of Buildings?
A-I am the only Inspector of Buildings, and I find it almost impossible to inspect any new building that is going on. It is very seldom that I find time to go round the new buildings in actual progress, there are so many old buildings altering and new buildings in course of erection, and I have such a lot of chits sent in by the Police and Sanitary Departments and anonymous letters sent in about different things. By the time I get over these and see Dr. CLARK, and report upon letters, etc., I have no time to look after new work.
Q-What do you mean by new work?
A-Buildings that are going up.
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Q-Do you inspect alterations?
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A-I do some, but I say it is not possible to do all.
Q-The fact is your staff is insufficient?
A-At the present moment there are 2,400 buildings to inspect.
Q-And how many Inspectors of Buildings do you think would be necessary to inspect 2,400 buildings?
A-I should think four Inspectors might get through that number.
Q-And what would be the nature of the inspection ?
A-One man to do new buildings, one man to do all measuring and little odd jobs, one man to attend to the chits. Here is a sample. The Police send in chits like this [sample dated November 28 produced].*
Q―These houses are reported by the Police as infringing the Building Ordinance? A--Simply matting and baskets and pieces of wood on roofs, and I have got to go and count these. †
* See Appendix No. 14.
† Mr. CRISP when recalled corrected his statement on this point.
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