Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 417

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A-1 am overwhelined with work and cannot overtake it. There are a number of these applications that involve very serious consideration. Most of them are not in the ordinary run of things at all, such as buying a lot of land on a hillside. Some of these applications involve questions of marine rights, lines of reclamation, interference with other people's rights and so on.

The Chairman.-They would naturally take a great deal of time?

A-Yes, but they have taken a longer time than necessary.

Q-With regard to the Land Bailiff's work, it appears that the co-operation between the Land Department and the Police is not very close?

A-No.

Q-Do you not think it would be a good thing to have such co-operation made

close?

A-It would be very advantageous if the Police reported anything they saw taking place in the outlying districts. They do something now, but they might do more.

Q-I feel certain that, if it was brought to the notice of the Captain Superintendent of Police, he would be only too ready to co-operate as far as he could. It was also mentioned by Mr. HUGHES that it was very desirable that the present accommodation in the Public Works Department should be improved. I understand that steps are being taken to have that done?

A-Yes, that is so,

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Q-And will the improvement overcome the present difficulty?

A-I think it will make provision for the staff I have stated to be requisite. Really it is a difficult matter to suggest the provision of any further accommodation. If it were possible, I should like to add one more room to what I have already proposed but the difficulty is to know how to do it.

Q-But do you think you can get along with the extra accommodation you can provide?

A-Yes, I think I can get along with it.

Q-We come now to a very important point, and that is the question as to how you think you can be relieved of routine duties. It came out in evidence very clearly that the Director of Public Works is so much overwhelmed by routine work and derails that he has no time to give that general supervision to the work of the Department, which, I believe, you yourself consider absolutely necessary and which this Commission regards as of the first importance. The Commission, therefore, would like to know how things can be arranged in such a manner that the Head of the Department, the Director of Public Works, can be relieved of duties which can be imposed upon an Assistant Director of Public Works, thereby enabling him to exercise that supervision essential in the case of the head of such a Department ?

A--I consider, if the staff is increased in the manner I have recommendlel, that that would be the result. It would relieve me, to a very large extent, of work that I am simply obliged to do at present. The Assistant Director of Public Works would deal with all ordinary matters, and only extraordinary matters would be dealt with by the Director of Public Works.

Q--And would that enable you to go about, inspecting all the works that are in progress, and keep in touch with everything?

A--I believe it would.

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