DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.24890#0103
( 93 )
Province, would be liable to modification in order to suit
the diverse conditions of other parts of the North-Western
Provinces and Oudh. It was accordingly laid down that while
certain general principles of universal application which the
rules embodied should not be altered without the express
sanction of Government, yet that a reasonable discretion was
allowed to executive officers on the spot in adapting the
rules on other matters to particular or local requirements.
Although through the famine there was no hesitation in
adapting the rules to circumstances as they changed, owing
to the advent of the spring harvest, the change in the season,
outbreaks of cholera or other circumstances, still the only
substantial deviations of importance introduced, consisted in
the method of payment and in an improved form of gang
register to which reference has already been made.
But while the Government thus gave a very large
measure of discretion to the officers on the spot, it insisted on
the submission of immediate information as to what had been
and was being done. The District Engineer, so soon as he
had compiled the return (Eorm III, Eamine Code) which he is
required to forward to the Collector weekly, submitted a note
directly to the Chief Engineer detailing the number of persons
employed, the expenditure incurred, the work done, the rate
of wages paid, the number of works open, and other particu-
lars. An abstract of this information for the whole province,
together with the notes themselves, was submitted weekly to
the Lieutenant-Governor by the Chief Engineer personally,
and instructions taken in regard to any matters which appeared
to require attention. Where a doubtful point required expla-
nation, the District Engineer was addressed direct, usually
by telegram, and in other cases the Superintending or Divi-
sional Engineer was addressed. This procedure saved much
time ; because as the Superintending or Divisional Engineers
were constantly moving, any periodical returns requiring their
intervention would probably, in the ordinary course, have
reached Government many days after the District Engineer’s
notes were actually received. A further, and a very great,
advantage was the diminution in office work, no periodical
returns of this nature being necessary from Divisional or
Superintending Engineers. The tendency as the famine
increased in intensity was to insist on these notes being more
and more full and complete, thus enabling the Government to
judge whether the pressure at the time was being adequately
met, whether one district or division could spare assistance for
another, whether sufficient provision was being made for the
future, and above all whether the expenditure was being kept
within reasonable limits.
The preparatory measures already described were
completed by the 5th of December, well in advance of
24
Province, would be liable to modification in order to suit
the diverse conditions of other parts of the North-Western
Provinces and Oudh. It was accordingly laid down that while
certain general principles of universal application which the
rules embodied should not be altered without the express
sanction of Government, yet that a reasonable discretion was
allowed to executive officers on the spot in adapting the
rules on other matters to particular or local requirements.
Although through the famine there was no hesitation in
adapting the rules to circumstances as they changed, owing
to the advent of the spring harvest, the change in the season,
outbreaks of cholera or other circumstances, still the only
substantial deviations of importance introduced, consisted in
the method of payment and in an improved form of gang
register to which reference has already been made.
But while the Government thus gave a very large
measure of discretion to the officers on the spot, it insisted on
the submission of immediate information as to what had been
and was being done. The District Engineer, so soon as he
had compiled the return (Eorm III, Eamine Code) which he is
required to forward to the Collector weekly, submitted a note
directly to the Chief Engineer detailing the number of persons
employed, the expenditure incurred, the work done, the rate
of wages paid, the number of works open, and other particu-
lars. An abstract of this information for the whole province,
together with the notes themselves, was submitted weekly to
the Lieutenant-Governor by the Chief Engineer personally,
and instructions taken in regard to any matters which appeared
to require attention. Where a doubtful point required expla-
nation, the District Engineer was addressed direct, usually
by telegram, and in other cases the Superintending or Divi-
sional Engineer was addressed. This procedure saved much
time ; because as the Superintending or Divisional Engineers
were constantly moving, any periodical returns requiring their
intervention would probably, in the ordinary course, have
reached Government many days after the District Engineer’s
notes were actually received. A further, and a very great,
advantage was the diminution in office work, no periodical
returns of this nature being necessary from Divisional or
Superintending Engineers. The tendency as the famine
increased in intensity was to insist on these notes being more
and more full and complete, thus enabling the Government to
judge whether the pressure at the time was being adequately
met, whether one district or division could spare assistance for
another, whether sufficient provision was being made for the
future, and above all whether the expenditure was being kept
within reasonable limits.
The preparatory measures already described were
completed by the 5th of December, well in advance of
24