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Fire Brigade Establishment, (page 32).
After some discussion as to the adequacy of the water supply, on the completion of the Tytam Water-Works, for Fire Brigade purposes, the Committee recommend that the votes for this Establish- ment be approved.
Charitable Allowances, Transport, Works and Buildings, Roads, Streets
and Bridges, (page 34).
After explanations by the Chairman and the Surveyor General, the Committee recommend that the votes for these services be approved.
Miscellaneous Services, (page 35).
Referring to the item for "Commission to Crown Agents," Mr. BELL-IRVING enquires whether there is any chance of the contracts for the supply of articles for the use of the Colony being thrown open to tender in the Colony.
After some discussion, in the course of which Mr. BELL-IRVING asks that a list of what is gene- rally wanted in the Colony be made out and laid before the Committee, the Committee recommend that the amount be approved.
Mr. RYRIE refers to the item "Loss in Exchange on Family Remittances," and suggests that the privilege of remitting at 4/2 should be extended to all members of the service.
Mr. BELL-IRVING is of opinion that all Officers who have come out to Hongkong on a Sterling agreement, and all Officers whose salaries are fixed by the Civil List Ordinance in Sterling, should be paid monthly in Dollars at the demand rate of the day.
Mr. LAYTON is of opinion that as we live in a Dollar using country, and as the Revenue is col- lected in Dollars, all Disbursements should be in that currency; but as the salaries of several Officers of the Government are fixed on a Sterling basis and at a fixed. Exchange of 1/2, it is only right that a revision of such salaries should be made to meet the fall that has taken place in the value of silver; at the same time, seeing that exchange is continually fluctuating, it is, in his opinion, very desirable that a plan should be adopted which would put the salaries on a satisfactory basis and do away with the necessity of the subject being brought up and reconsidered year after year; and probably Mr. BELL-IRVING'S suggestion that the "demand rate" should be the basis of calculation, is the best plan, for then in case of exchange advancing, as many think quite possible in the near future, the salaries would still be paid at the current value of the Dollar.
The Chief Justice remarks that by the Civil List Ordinance, 13 of 1860, the salaries of the Officers mentioned therein are given in Sterling which is reckoned at 4/2. On the other hand the Military Contribution, which is also given in Sterling, is reckoned at 3/0, and both these items appear in the present Estimates. The Sterling is paid to Public Officers at 4/2, but to the War Department at 3/0, an anomaly to say the least of it.
After explanation by the Chairman of the several items under this head, the Committee recommend that the amount for this service be voted, but express an opinion in accordance with the Governor's message that some special relief is required in the case of Officers appointed from England in conse- quence of the great fall in exchange.
Military Expenditure, (page 35).
After explanation by the Chairman, the Committee recommend that the amount for this service. be voted.
Interest on Loan and Sinking Fund, (page 35).
After explanation by the Chairman, the Committee recommend that the amount for this service
be voted.
Extraordinary Expenditure, (page 36).
Mr. LAYTON remarks in reference to the item for " Drainage on Separate System." that some infor- mation regarding the scheme should be furnished to the public.
The Chairman says that His Excellency the Governor will probably cause Mr. CoOPER'S exhaustive Report on the subject to be laid before the Legislative Council.
The Committee recommend that the unexpended balance in the Estimates for 1888 of the item Continuation of Police Buildings Extensions," which appears to have been inadvertently omitted, should be inserted in these Estimates.
After explanations by the Chairman and the Surveyor General, the Committee discuss the various items under this heading, and finally recommend that the several amounts referred to be voted.
All the several items mentioned in the Estimates for 1889, having been thus fully considered, the Committee desire to report, with the foregoing amendments, the Appropriation Bill for 1889,
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