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1842
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Q--And do you think they will be constructed more cheaply than they would have been under the Public Works Department?
A-No, I have no reason to think so.
Q-Do you think they will be equal in class to the other Government works? A--Certainly.
Q-And will it be more expeditiously completed under your firm than under the Government?
A—I don't think there is any reason to think it will be either the one way or the other, except that the Government have not got the men to do it.
Q-Then you think the Government will not gain by it?
A-The Government have not got the staff now to do it.
By Mr. Shewan.-Did you say just now that you are waiting for something before you begin with the Kowloong Waterworks ?
A-It has been referred to Mr. CHADWICK, who, I understand, is coming here in a fortnight.
Q-How long have you been waiting?
A-We had instructions to prepare plans in July, and we were ready to advertise for tenders in October. We have been waiting since October.
Q-Then, so far as Government is concerned, there is delay?
A-Yes.
Q-So that private work in that way is better, if it is not cheaper ?
A-Yes.
1850
Q-And the same with this road-you don't think it will be cheaper?
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A-The Jubilee Road-not if the Public Works Department had laid out a road on the same lines.
Q-Work for work, it would not be any cheaper?
A-No cheaper.
Q-Would it not be dearer?
A-I don't think so.
Q--The whole thing from beginning to end-in the case of the waterworks you admit there is delay there--and the road, would there not have been some delay there if they had not had a private person as their principal?
A-Yes. In the case of the road, it had to be referred to the Government. Our principal was not the Government, so we took the thing in hand and got in tenders while they were considering it.
By the Chairman. Did you say you were ready in July to commence the Water-works ?
A-No, we were ready to begin in Octobor. We had orders to get out plans in July.
By Mr. Shewan.-But you could have been ready in July if it had been a private person to deal with?
A-No, not till October.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.