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L. GIBBS, sworn.--
By the Chairman.- Mr. GIBBS, how long have you been in Hongkong?
A-Eleven years, Sir.
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Q-And how long were you in the Public Works Department?
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A-Nearly ten years.
Q-In the capacity of what?
A-Assistant Engineer.
Q-And you left the Public Works Department to join the firm of Messrs. DENISON & RAM, now the firm of Messrs. DENISON, RAM, & GIBBS?
A-Yes.
Q-During your period of service in the Public Works Department, Mr. GIBBS, with what works were you chiefly concerned?
A-I was assistant to Mr. CHATHAM for about 6 years on Extraordinary Public Works, including Waterworks extensions here and at Kowloon. Then I had a year at home, after that I was in charge of the Waterworks of the Colony for a year and final- ly I was in charge of the Land Branch for a year and was also engaged on the New Kowloon Waterworks Scheme.
Q-You have experience of outside work-non-Government work?
A-Nearly two years.
Q-Speaking from your experience, how do you think the cost of Government work and the quality of that work compares with the quality and cost of private work?
A-I don't see any chance of saying. We do largely an entirely different class of work. You cannot compare a Chinese house, for instance, with any Government work. There is no means of comparing, because it is an entirely different thing. But when we come to deal with the same class of work, for instance, Jubilee Road, I don't see there is any reason for saying it is either cheaper or dearer, if the same road had been put in by the Public Works Department.
Q-Do you think private firms are able to get their own work more cheaply or efficiently done than the Government ?
A-I don't think they are able to get it done more cheaply. If plans and spe- cifications were handed to private architects and they were asked to get in tenders, the tenders would not differ materially from tenders obtained by the Public Works De- partment on the same plans and specifications. It is more an individual matter than a matter between the Public Works Department and outsiders. Some men are more ready to help a contractor than others, and the average Chinese contractor being almost entirely ignorant of his business, needs a lot of help. But I cannot say that the Public Works Department as a whole are less ready to help a contractor than the average outside architect is.
Q-Speaking from your experience of the Public Works Department and its staff did the staff of that Department appear to be sufficient while you were there?
A-It certainly was not sufficient while I was there.
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Q-In what way do you think it was deficient?
A-When I was in charge of Waterworks, I should have had an assistant under me, and I should have had another overseer, and another Chinese clerk.
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Q-And they were all wanting?
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