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1886
7
9
Do
you
Q-For instance, the Law Courts plans have been prepared by a firm at home.
think that that firm is as competent to prepare these plans as one here ?
A-No, I don't think so. I think it was a mistake to send the work home.
Q-You have been ten years in the Public Works Department, and you are now interested in DENISON & RAM?
--So far as I am in a position to judge without prejudice, I should say the work should be done in the Colony.
By the Chairman.-Mr. GIBBS, is there any other matter that you think would be of use to the Commission that you think they have not asked you about?
A-I think the great point with the Public Works Department is the question of giving men an incentive to work. At present they have little or none. If you have as good men in the Public Works Department as you have outside, of course you might as well have the work done by the members of the Public Works Department, but if your men leave at the end of a few years, and you have to get new men from home, these men, I think, have not the experience of those who have left, consequently you get better work outside.
Q-And what do you suggest as an incentive?
It is a personal
A-It is very difficult to say without going into personal matters.
You should let promotion go by results, and not by seniority. If you have got a good man, treat him well.
matter.
Q-Then with regard to the inspection of buildings, Mr. GIBBS, I think your firin signed the letter that was sent to Government, signed by all the architects and engi- neers in the Colony, did they not?
A-Yes, I believe they did.
1890
Q-Did that letter contain your views also?
1
3
4
A-Not entirely. There is a great difficulty about these letters.
You must either
leave them unsigned, and then it appears as if you don't agree with them at all, or, if you sign them, it appears that you agree with them entirely. I don't remember the details now, but I remember I did not agree with the letter entirely.
Q-What way do you think the law should be altered by imposing the respon- sibility on the architect ?
A-I think the responsibility should be on the owner.
Q-Is that the rule at home?
A I do not know.
Q-That the owner should be responsible, and the owner has to engage the archi- tect or engineer ?
A-Yes, but in half the cases in Hongkong, it is not the architect who is respon- sible for the divergencies. It is the owner.
Q-By telling the architect to diverge ?
A---No, by telling the contractor to diverge.
5
Q-And is the architect not able to detect that ?
6
A--He cannot stop it. The owner has more power with the contractor than the architect has, That is in dealing with Chinese clients. The average European client entrusts the architect to see that the work is carried out properly.
By Mr. Shewan.-A respectable architect would then throw up the work?
A-I don't see why he should.
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