Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 340

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By Colonel Brown.-Could you give us any idea of the references per month you

have to make to the Public Works Departinent?

A--Well, it depends. Some months there are none at all. It is in connection with new jobs, as a rule, that the delay comes in. Some matters we come up per- sonally about, and the thing is practically ended.

Q--How many plans have you presented, during the last month, say?

A—I don't suppose more than four or five. Lately I have not done so much.

By Mr. Master.-Do you think the Director of Public Works has more to attend to than he can reasonably be expected to cope with ?

A-I should think so, certainly, unless he has got somebo:ly to attend to the work.

Q-He sits on the Sanitary Board ?

A—Well, that must take up a lot of time. most of the work, he could not possibly do it.

Unless he has got some one to do

Q-With regard to Mr. TOOKER, do you think he has got more work than he can attend to?

A-He seems to have got a great deal to do with the signing of permits, which might be done by some other body.

Q-Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH, has he got too much to do?

A—Well, of course, that is a department in which there is considerable delay, but lately there must have been a very great deal more work, owing to the short sup- ply of water.

Q-Do you think the senior members of the Public Works Department. require

assistance ?

A---I should not say the Water Authority requires assistance.

Q-Mr. CHATHAM and Mr. ToOKER, do you think they require assistance? A-Well, I should say that they do. There should be another man correspond- ing to Mr. ToOKER.

By the Chairman.--A suggestion has been made that it might be a wise course for the Government to let out its work to private firms. Do you think the Gov- ernment, if it adopted that course, would get as good and cheap work as at present?

A-You mean their architectural work, or to let out their contract?

Q-I mean, to give to private firms, say, your own firm or any of the other firms, the designing and carrying out of any large building?

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A-Well, I think as regards the designing that would be the best plan to carry

Let private firms make the plans and designs. As far as the actual superintend- ence goes, of course the staff of the Public Works Department is very good. I think they probably may carry out the job better as far as the work is concerned than we could that is to superintend the work with their staff. They have now a lot of trained men.

Q-Then your suggestion is that the Government should call for designs?

A-Yes, in the same way as is done at home.

Q-And if a firm is selected, you think that that firm should be entrusted with the work, but that the Government should superintend it whilst in progress?

A-Well, if they have got their Clerks of Works, it would be as well to have them superintending.