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THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, JUNE 21, 1929.
casualties under the above heads approximate to 25% and not 50% of strength. The following is an extract from the Annual Report of the Chief Officer, Fire Brigade, on the year 1927 :-
Recruits. The difficulty in connexion with recruits for the Fire Brigade has now disappeared although vacancies are still of frequent occurrence owing to the ease with which men can leave the Brigade if they wish to do so, i.e. on one month's notice."
Up to the end of 1928 Firemen were on a monthly engagement. It was then decided that, owing to the large number of men who left the Brigade, for one reason or another, after short periods of service, all Chinese members of the Brigade should be called upon to sign an agree- ment for five years service, and provide a security of from $25 to $100 for the keeping of the agreement, This accounts for the large number of resignations in 1929. Members were given the option of resigning or signing a five years agreement. The places of these men have already been filled with the exception of seven; for these last places there are already seven candidates whose characters are at the moment under investigation.
2. It is considered that the wages offered to 'the Chinese staff of the Fire Brigade, in comparison with the wages ruling in other branches of Government service, are adequate. In a report dated December, 1928, the Chief Office wrote: -"There have been several revisions of pay to the Chinese staff, and I consider that they are all, from Sub-Officers downwards, well paid. I do not advocate any increase in emoluments over and above any granted generally to Chinese Government employees, irrespective of the departments they are working in." Representatives of the various ranks of the Fire Brigade attended before the Salaries Commission which has recently concluded its sittings. No complaints regarding wages have been brought to the notice of the Authorities. 3. The three principal causes of casualties in the Fire Brigade are:---(a) the work entails a bigger physical strain than candidates anticipate. (b) The discipline, and confinement to Station, which the work entails. (e) The ease with which a candidate could formerly obtain and discard $20 a month and lodging. As to (a), most of these casualties cannot be avoided; it sometimes happens that a man is prepared to continue in the Brigade, but the Superintendent has to turn him away, after trial, because he has not the requisite physical strength. It is a debatable question whether higher pay would overcome this difficulty. Higher pay might attract a more intelligent class of candidate, but it is highly probable that he would possess a lower standard of physical strength and nerve. (b) The Chinese mind does not take kindly to Fire Brigade discipline. The demands of their duty are recognised by the grant to Firemen of 24 hours leave every six days. (e) This difficulty has been met, it is hoped, by the institution of a five years agreement.
MOTIONS.
7. Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Bill.-The Hon. Mr. W. E. L. SHENTON moved the Second reading of the Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the constitution of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.”
The Hon. Mr. A. C. HYNES seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Council in Committee on the Bill.
In clause 16 the marginal note "Limit of Debts and Liabilities
was added.
In clause 17 the marginal note "Power to wind up and application of the Com-
panies Ordinance thereto was added.
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