FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1931.
BUDGET
DEBATE
which
(Continued from Page 3.)
leagues and gladly approve of fees, and has introduced many the provision made in the Esti-new forms of taxation, mates for this school which, we think, will be of real benefit to the community,
11
and to a more or less extent.
by
Technical Aspect of the Estimates,
THE
under the caption "Summary." From this Summary the figures for the statement can be com- piled without difficulty.
the
..
CHINA
MAIL.
A New Wharf.
There
Expenditure for 1981 is $20,800 which he states is at present main trade and the drop in exchange. Government who by reason of their and for 1932 $6,000; while the ly occupied with the Vehicular Government Servants at Home, professional qualifications, high total of the three main items Ferry scheme. Whilst admitting in Ceylon, the Straits and other attainments and technical skill Personal Emoluments, Other that that work is of great import-places have all had their salaries should receive a full measure of Auditor Not Enamoured.
Charges, and Special Expendi-ance to the Colohy, I consider that cut and it is only fitting that the their value so as to secure to ture for 1931, was $948,610, and a matter which requires much Civil Servants of this Colony the Colony the benefit of their Speaking of the "omnibus" the total for 1932 was $942,341 more urgent attention Is the re- should shoulder their fair share of valued services. As, for example, affect all classes of the com- the audit of the accounts of Hong--when in reality the estimates long over-due work
heads, I see from his report on -an apparent decrease of $6,260 survey of the harbour so that the the burden occasioned by the pre-the provision of $18,000, recover munity directly and indirectly, Kong for the year 1930, that the for 1932, if computed without can be taken in hand without any of increasing the levy on the al- the Medical Department, who are of dredging sent world-wide depression Insteadable in fees, for 8 Consultants in The taxable capacity of the Government Auditor is not alto- the Special Expenditure, should further delay. I understand that ready sorely-hit taxpayer, and in professor The Colony's Educational
of the Hong Kong System.
people, as has been pointed out gether enamoured of the method reveal an increase of 88,581.one officer has been detailed for cidentally finding themselves bet- University doing specialist and
of grouping salaries in the man- With the Special Expenditure this special service. the honourable senior un- Your Excellency has recently
has ter off than they have ever been consulting, work and whose value appointed a committee to en-uflicial member. has now reach-ner at present employed. It may shown separately in the Sum boon no extensive dredging done at any time during their service.
to the Colony cannot be over- would be since 1928 and had it not been for I shall therefore in due course, estimated. quire into the question of Chin-ed a point where any additional be interesting to point out that mary, this confusion
in 1925 the late Hon. Mr. P. H. obviated. adverse
the reclamation at Kal Tack that move the following amendment to ese education at the University imposts will have an
Tho abolition of the General of Hong Kong. It appears to effect on the economic life of the members were not fully satisfied would suggest is the inclusion in carried out even now,
Another innovation which I work might possibly not have been Section. Two of the proposed Bill: Works Office of the Public Works Holyoak said that the unofficial
"That me that the time has come when community. It is earnestly to that it was not preferable to future Estimates of a new state-
ឆ sum not exceeding Department, referred to by the be hoped, now that the Govern-debit salaries of the clerical ser- ment showing the percentage of our educational system as
$25,703,257 in place of the sum of Hon. Colonial Secretary in his To accommodate the larger $26,641,787 shall be and the same Budget speech, is an whole should be thoroughly ment has managed to balance a')
economy overhauled, and that it may be very difficult Budget, and the vice to the various departments each head of expenditure to the steamers trading to this port, the is hereby charged upon the re-
measure of doubtful expediońcy. I profitable to appoint a committee rate of exchange is actually high-concerned, so that the unofficial total estimated Expenditure, ex- Hong Kong and Kowloon Wharf venue and other funds of the do not know to what extent at for the purpose.
Some thinker than the rate on which the members could arrive at a de- cluding Public Works Extra- and Godown Company, Ltd., have Colony for the service of the year all, honourable members will share that we are spending far too craft Estimates are based, the finite knowledge of the cost of ordinary; and also the percent-extended their existing wharves, 1932,"
my view; but the application of the much on education: others feet Government will give the people the Government did not accept to the total estimated Revenue, er wharf. This new wharf, which Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga. of top-notch mon
running each department. But age of each head of expenditure and are now building a still long-
pruning knife to the technical staff that we do not spend enough; some respite by ceasing its quest this view, In 1929 the Hon. Sir excluding Land Sales.
in the profes is being erected at a cost of over while yet others consider that for, additional revenue.
sional ranks of a highly specialised Shou-son Chow, on behalf of the I apologise for the seeming a million dollars, will be complet. the system in vogue is capable
The Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga said: department may find the Colony, unofficial members, also drew at presumption with which I have fed by the end of this year, but The role I propose to assume in under normal conditions, bare of of improvement. That being the
tention to this method, and aug-proffered these suggestions, I owing to the shallow approaches connection with the Budget debate dependable men when important case, a committee of enquiry, Having expressed the collee-rested that the public interest have done so in the belief that I will not be available for the big is that of special pleader on behalf public works of large magnitudo composed of men with practical tive views of the Chinese unoffi- would be better served by re- might be helpful to the Govern-modern liners until a channel is of Kowloon. experience of education and with ciul members, may I, with great verting to the old system of em- ment in its efforts to produce dredged.
Before, however, call for trained technicians with a knowledge of local conditions, deference, offer some personal bodying in the estimates of each the Estimates in a f. rm that I maintain this is essentially a this Honourable Council a case for can only be acquired after a few presenting to Your Excellency and knowledge of local conditions that should be of great assistance to opinions and suggestions in re-department all salaries charge would facilitate reference, and work which should be carried out the needs and claims which the years' realdence and professional the Government in determining gard to the technical aspect of able to that department, even if would afford the community in- by and at the expense. of the Gov- Kowloon Residents' Association de practico in the Colony.. Mistakes its educational policy.
the Estimates? I am embolden- a little more time and labour formation for which it has lookernment, whose duty it is to pro sire me to submit for modest and of unseasoned men newly recruited Water Supply.
ed to undertake this self-imposed were entailed thereby. To this ed in vain in the past. As the question of water sup-task by the readiness with which suggestion the Government made
vido access to berths for all steam- moderate but, nevertheless, urgent from Britain and unacquainted Conclusion.
ers trading to, this port. ply is of vital importance to the the Government has in the past a partial concession by introduc-
AJ a representative of the tional taxes have recently been sula, great disappointment must be tic conditions may prove so expon- Addi- public improvements for the penin- with the local physical and clima Chinese, I make no apologies for adopted similar suggestions from ing the Summary I have men- Chinese residents, may I asso- levied on shipping and the rates expressed at the non-fulfilment of sive as to absorb all the injudicious adding a few remarks to those the unofficial members, and also tioned. This Summary is a dis-ciate them with the pledge of co- and taxes payable by the Wharf the Government's undertaking to savings effected during a period of of the honourable Renior unoffi- by the experience which I gain-tinct improvement on the form operation and support offered to Company are assessed cial member. Three years ago, ed from the humble part I took in of
on profits economise in the direction of the doubt and anxiety. The advantage when the supply to the rider-the preparation of the Colony's though on the whole I prefer to members through their leader? ance sheet: that is to say they are larger number of dollar for sterk General Works Office will be lost previous Estimates, Your Excellency by the unofficial as shown in the Company's bal- staffing of the public service by a of co-ordination obtained in the main districts had to be severely annual Estimates when I had see the estimates of expenditure I should also like, on their behalf, collected on revenue from wharves, ing-paid servants of the restricted from time to time, en- the honour of serving in the Col- of each department contain all to tender to Your Excellency in addition to pier rents.
Govern. by abolition and, speaking us & tailing acute hardship on the onial Secretary's Office.
the detailed disbursements it grateful thanks for your kind
Inyman, I doubt if the redistribu-
· people, I feel it my duty to speak
Sterling Salaries. If I may be permitted to say so, has to make. At any rate, the expression of sympathy with
I Inbour under some disadvant- tion of work bitherto coming with-- on the Government's lack of fore the form of the draft Estimates Auditor seems to hold this view; their countrymen in
Turning to the question of storage in the formulation of my the greating salaries, that is
In the purview of the General sight in providing an adequate now before us is undoubtedly but if the Government is not pre- misfortunte that has befallen | which-if judged by what
a subject criticisms, since in the absence of Works Office will tend to greater supply to the people. To-day, it better than that of any Estim-pared to go to the length advo- them through the series of un-reads and hears-is causing more Committee, which has been with. One disadvantage is obvious the one the Report of the Retrenchmont efficiency or potential economy. is my agreeable duty to express ates have been presented to this cated by me, may I suggest that precedentedly disastrous floods adverse appreciation of the expeditious Council during the past several in future Estimates, under the in the Yangtaze regions, and also stronger public fooling than any the Legislative Council, except and hence more costly supervision. comment and arousing held from the Unofficial Members of disadvantage of decentralisation and satisfactory manner, in which years. The two statements head "Summary," Special Ex for the Government's generous other matter raised in connection those who are also members of the various waterworks have been showing the actual Revenue and penditure should be shown after contribution in aid of the victims with the estimates for 1932,
The Luxury Line. or will soon be completed. The the actual Expenditure for the Personal Emoluments and Other of the floods in Kwangtung. This
Executive Council, it is impossible Saying what I have just stated Chinese would be grateful if past ten years, now embodied in Charges have been totalled, friendly assistance, rendered spon-able general survey in introducing the Retrenchment Committee had that, there are branches of the ser- The Colonial Secretary in his to determine the extent to which one is not unmindful of the fact Your Excellency could assure the Estimates for the first time. Special Expenditure is non-re-taneously and promptly, exempli- the Budget unfortunately when acquicaced in the Government's vice in which it is little short of a them that with the completion of are particularly helpful. these works, sporadic restric- venture to think that the useful show a large amount in one year faith and hope the world will dis- ture describing the sacrifices the personnel on a sterling basis, Nor salaries whose positions can
But I current expenditure, and may fies the truth of the lines: In dealing with salaries drew a pic policy of maintaining an expensive luxury to retain officers on sterling tions such as we have experienc-ness of the second statement and nothing at all in another; to agree -
and ed in the past need not be fear-would have been greatly en group. it with the other two re-cern is charity."
But all mankind's con- sterling paid Civil Servants had is it possible to ascertain how far should be filled by men and women hanced if Personal Emoluments, current items may cause a wrong
been called upon to bear in the Your Excellency's instructions to who can perform the duties with burden of balancing the Budget as several Other Charges, and Special Ex-conception of the real position of
departments (Hansard equal if not greater efficiency but penditure of each department the estimated recurrent expen-
· Hon. Mr. C. G. Mackie. compared with the employees of 1930, p. 227) regarding local re- drawing their salaries in dollars.
the business concerns The Hon. Dr. 3. W. Tso will were shown separately, thereby diture of a department for the
of the cruiting have been carried out. To better illustrate the compara-. ' Colony. speak on the necessity for more enabling the public to see the following year as compared with The Hon, Mr. C.. Gordon Mackie encouragement, and support variations in each of those three that of the current year.
His statements were not at all earnest of its determination to clerical service I have compiled a Until the Government gives an Live cost of the two divisions of the Foraaid in part:- ing given by the Government to main Items for a period of ten example, take the Summary at-
convincing and were, in fact, very apply the axe in respect of a large brief summary that goes to show Reference is made by the misleading, as," I may state, almost the growing of vegetables in the years. The statement could be tuched to the Imports and Ex-Colonial Secretary in his speech without exception, the entire bus branch of the gold section of Its with how much indifference the New Territories, so that the further improved, in my opinion, ports Office on page 27. From to the work being done by the nese and professional community administration, it is difficult to clamour for economy in adminis- Colony may be less dependent on by having all the salaries charge this you will see that the Special Port Development sub-department, has been very severely hit by bad resist the conclusion that the com- tration is received. outside supplies. With his viewable to any one department
manity's domand .for greater and suggestion Sir Shou-son instead of having them grouped
economy in the Colony's adminis Chow and I are in agreement. allocated to that department,
trative expenditure has baen Taxation.
under the three "omnibus" hends|
Ignored. Lest an omission on my part-Cadet Service, Senior Clerical to mention the new taxes recent and Accounting Staff, and Junior ly brought into force give the Clerical Staff. To do this for impression that the Chinese have the last ten years might entail no strong feeling on the subject, too much clerical work, but per- I should like to say that the haps a beginning in this direc- Chinese view these wholesale tion might be made with 1931, imposts with considerable con- the year in which the totals of cern and apprehension. The Gov- the three main items mentioned ernment has made a thorough were for the first time given in revision of all the licences and the estimates of each department
ed in the future.
Agriculture in New Territories.
A DELIGHTFUL RANGE
of
WRAP COATS
featuring
Many New Styles
in
Collars & Revers.
LANE, CRAWFORD, LTD.
Ladies' Dept.
Distinctive.
of course
appealing-
always
Yes, "CAPSTAN"is truly a
thoroughbred among high-grade cigar- ettes. A distinctive flavor-an appealing flavor -a cooler, sweeter and better smoke. The choice of connoisseurs.
CAPSTAN
COOLER - SWEETER - BETTER
2
ment.
Value of Specialists.
I must not be misinterpreted as denying to those officers of the
The members of the senior and accounting staff are all paid in sterling, while those of the junior clerical staff are paid In dollara. The comparison Is a striking one..
The senior clerical branch was
(Continued on Fage 7.)
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