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19TH JULY, 1904.
PRESENT:―
PRESERVATION OF WILD BIRDS AND GAME.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT, F. H. MAY, C.M.G.
HIS EXCELLENCY MAJOR-GENERAL VILLIERS HATTON, C.B. (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. L. A. M. JOHNSTON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar General).
Hon. Captain L. A. W. BARNES-LAWRENCE R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hon. P. N. H. JONES (Director of Public Works). Hon. Sir C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. Dr. HO KAI, C.M.G.
Hon. WEI A YUK.
Hon. R. SHEWAN.
Hon. GERSHOM STEWART.
Hon. W. J. GRESSON.
Mr. S. B. C. ROSS (Clerk of Councils).
Absent―Hon. ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee (No. 8) and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and the motion was agreed to.
EXTENSION TO SISTERS' QUARTERS.
There was laid on the table the following report of Proceedings of the Public Works Committee at a meeting held on the 12th July (the Director of Public Works presiding):―
The Chairman explained that, in view of the large rent which has to be paid for "Stowford," the property of Mr. M. J. D. Stephens, in the neighbourhood, at present utilised for housing the sisters, and the excessive repairs necessary from time to time, it was considered inadvisable to extend the lease, which expires on 30th April, 1905, beyond one year from that date, and to consider the desirability of erecting a wing to the present hospital staff quarters, especially as accommodation for a larger staff has become necessary. He now submitted a plan showing an extension to the present staff quarters which was estimated would cost $26,000 and would meet present requirements.―Sir Paul Chater stated that this was the scheme that was promised by the Government to the Jubilee Fund subscribers and sanctioned by the Secretary of State for the house for the nursing sisters, and that, although he was in accord with the suggestion of extension of accommodation for Government nurses if it was required, before he agreed to the arrangement proposed he would like to have matters explained and the position cleared up.―With the consent of the other members the Chairman withdrew the plan and informed them that he would submit Sir Paul Chater's remarks to the Government and ask for an explanation of the position.
The first item on the Orders of the Day was the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Wild Birds and Game Preservation Ordinance, 1885.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY said―This Bill, Sir, is hardly ready yet, and I would ask leave to withdraw it in the meantime.
This was agreed to.
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, 1899. He said―The object of this Bill is, I think, sufficiently well shown in the sections embodied therein. It provides for the immediate discharge from custody of a person committed for trial in cases where the Attorney-General declines to file an indictment against him. It means that a man gets out of gaol sooner than under the present system in cases where there is no intention to take actual proceedings against him in the Supreme Court.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The Council then went into Committee on the Bill and considered it clause by clause.
On the Council resuming,
The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved that the Bill be read a third time and passed.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION BILL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to authorise the Appropriation of a Supplementary Sum of Three hundred and thirty-one thousand six hundred and twenty-four Dollars and forty-one Cents, to defray the Charges of the Year 1905. He said―This is the usual Supplementary Appropriation Bill, and any questions which may be asked in regard to any of the items will be answered in the Finance Committee in the usual course.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY then moved that the Bill be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The Council then went into Finance Committee (the Colonial Secretary taking the
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chair), and considered the Bill in detail, as follows:―
Pensions .......................................... $26,303.08 Governor and Legislature .............. 1,158.95 Treasury ........................................... 1,244.79 Post Office ...................................... 26,362.27 Registrar-General's Department .... 1,921.21 Harbour Master's Department ...... 3,108.51 Judicial and Legal Departments ... 2,116.47 Land Court, New Territory ............ 1,041.51 Magistracy ...................................... 706.30 Transport ......................................... 11,848.84 Miscellaneous Services ................. 32,922.63 Public Works Recurrent ................. 92,777.98 —————
Ordinary Expenditure .................... $201,512.54 Public Works Extraordinary .......... 130,111.87 —————
Total Supplementary Votes ........... $331,624.41
The CHAIRMAN said―Gentlemen, I think to the best of my recollection the sum required on this occasion is very much smaller than it used to be in the old days. I think we might go
through the items one by one, and any question in regard to them the Colonial Treasurer will be very pleased to answer.
All the items were passed without question.
On the Council resuming, the COLONIAL SECRETARY, addressing His Excellency (who had resumed the chair) said―Sir, I have the honour to report that we have decided to recommend the passing of this Bill. I therefore beg to move that in the ordinary course we proceed to discuss the Bill in Committee of the Council.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The Council then went into Committee and considered the Bill item by item.
On the Council resuming,
The COLONIAL SECRETARY said―Sir, if there is no objection, and as there has been no amendment to the Bill, I beg to move that it be read a third time and passed.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The Council adjourned sine die.
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