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consisting of an Assistant Director of Public Works, five executive engineers and nine Assistant Engineers, so far as that portion of your staff was concerned, that would be sufficient ?
A-I believe it would.
Q-Do you think that staff would be sufficient to enable you to carry out all work-ordinary and extraordinary-such as appears in the Estimates this year?
A--I do not, of course, include the Kowloon Water-works which are in the hands of Messrs. DENNISON, RAM & GIBBS.
Q-Of course these works have been given to a private firm to carry out, but under your supervision. Is that not so ?
A - Yes.
Q-But, putting that aside, do you consider that the staff would be sufficient to enable you to carry out the works as laid down in the Estimates this year?
A-That is my opinion. I should like to say, however, that I do not include in the five Executive Engineers the two Engineers at present engaged on the Praya Re- clamation works.
Q-I understand that these two Engineers, when the works are finished, would be no longer required for that work ?
A--That is so.
Q--We have gone into the question of roads, and we have it in evidence that it is the opinion of some of the witnesses-Mr. TOOKER particularly--that for roads the ad- dition of another Assistant Engineer and another European Overseer are necessary in order to bring the staff dealing with roads up to the proper state of sufficiency. Is that your opinion?
A-In the number of staff I have stated, I have included one Assistant Engineer for maintenance work generally of roads and buildings and similar work, and I think that one additional Overseer should be appointed for looking after the roads in the City. They have increased very largely within the last few years, and it is getting beyond the scope of one man to look after them properly.
Q-Do you recommend the addition of one European overseer ?
A-Yes, one for roads in the City,
Q-We have had it in evidence with regard to telegraphs anti telephones that it is considered desirable that one Overseer should devote his time and attention to that
work alone?
A--I certainly agree with that.
Q-That would mean the employment of an additional Overseer for roads, leaving the present Overseer to look after the telegraphs and telephones?
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A-It would be more correct to put it the other way because Mr. FARRELL is sim- ply a temporary man during Mr. DOUGHERTY's absence.
Q-But, leaving out the personal element, do you consider that, so far as telegraphs and telephones are concerned, an European Overseer should look after them and nothing else, and with regard to roads do you consider an Assistant Engineer should see to their maintenance generally?
A--There should be an European Overseer for telephone work only.
Q-What about the roads outside the City?
A-If the Overseer is relieved of looking after the telephone service he ought to be able to look after the roads outside the City.
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