2
THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 20, 1941.
GOVERNMENT UNDER
HEAVY FIRE IN
Unofficials Strong In Criticisms INEFFICIENCY ALLEGED
SHARP CRITICISM
OF GOVERNMENT'S ADMINISTRATION FORMED THE FEATURE OF UNOFFICIAL SPEECHES IN LEGISLA- TIVE COUNCIL THIS MORNING WHEN THE BUDGET DEBATE WAS OPENED ON THE FIRST READING OF THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
It was revealed that the new block at Police Headquarters is not to be proceeded with, nor the new Infectious Diseases Hospital in Kowloon.
Unofficial Members strongly condemned the raising of the Income Tax "bogey" and argued that if further war revenue is required it should be raised within the framework of the existing tax scheme with, perhaps, some of its "iniquities" ironed out.
Chinese members of Council were vigorous in criticism of the working of the Immigration Depart- ment, and there were suggestions in the speeches of several members that an inquiry should be held into allegations of inefficiency in certain departments.
The Hon. Mr. Leo d'Almada, for instance, de- clared: "I suggest, Sir, that Government emulate the Dictators in one regard, and take measures to purge its ranks.”
Moving that the Estimates
Should revenue fall short of expectations or should expendi- unforeseen be ture at present
be incurred that sanction will withhold.
Besides thanking, on behalf ofļ the Government and, I think I may Say the whole Colony, the Unofficial members for the time and labour which they gave to the preparation of the estimates in their revised form, I should like to express my particular gratitude to the Financial Secretary and to Todd. I am his assistant, Mr. very conscious of my own short comings in this respect but I feel Honourable Members will appreciate that during the past few months it has been phy- sically impossible to devote the time and attention that are nor-
of il expected
Colonial mally Secretary in framing the financial policy for the coming year.
PETROL RATIONING
sure that
DEBATE
until later and these have been agreed to, I think the result lies on the table. There is one item however which still remains open, the collection of night soil by Government at a cost of $384,000 for coolies only, we firmly believe supervision can be given to the existing arrangement until we can see more clearly what the future holds for us.
Incomprehensibility
The necessity for Evacuation is at last apparent; I feel that some part of all three parties to it be- haved badly, the Colonial Govern- ment which failed completely to make proper arrangements ahead of the event, some of the evacuees who continue to complain I think unduly of hardships which when viewed in the bomb-light of Coventry
are little enough, and the Home Government when it failed to enforce laws laid down and allowed non cooperation to succeed. A Trinity of Incompre- hensibility which reminds me of St. Athanasius, his creed.
MR. DODWELL ON LIGHT TAXATION
cost us more
to collect. During the deliberations" the Select Committee, the conduct of certain Government departments care in for much adverse criti- cism.
My Honourable friend the Senior Member has already dealt with this matter, but I should be lacking in my duty were I not also to stress the extreme seriousness of the many adverse reports and complaints which far too many members of the public have Un- brought to the notice of us offlerals,
Unfortunately, few, if any of the acrious charges made can be supported by evidence because tnose concerned are unwilling to come forward for that pur- are So pose, but grievances numerous that in the interests of the departments themselves,
well
the of 28
should be
26
public. held.
that an enquiry
Deadly Disabilities
I
Last
the remarks year in made during the budget debate, I expressed my conviction that the Government was suffering from firstly, three deadly disabilities: their inability to dispense with The Hon. Mr. S. H. Dodwell the services of an unsatisfactory sald: Amendments to the Budget servant: secondly, promotion by recommended by the Select Com-seniority rather than ability, and mittee and agreed to by Your Ex-thirdly the higher pay obtaining celiency have considerably reduced in this Colony as compared with the deficit originally foreshadow most others, which reduces to a minimum the healthy transfer of staff from one Colony to another, and breeds a parochial-minded
by my Honourable friend the Financial Secretary,
Everyone must regret the need for the pruning that has taken:ervice, place, and must also admit that we lag behind lamentably in the Revenue matter of social services. The
In the Report of the last War mem- Committee the
leading burs, composed of the business men of the Colony un- my the Chairmanship of
the Attorney Honourable friend
unanimous in re- General, were commending that:--
der for of the institution, at a cost of over
the year 1941-42 as now presented, four lakhs, of a system of night- be approved, the Hon. Mr. N. L.soil removal by labour directly,
employed by the Sanitary Depart- ment. As it is impossible, in pre-
Smith said.
#
On 16th January, 1941, hy Resolution of this Council the sent draft estimates of expenditure for 1941-42 were referred to a Select Committer consisting of myself, the Financial Secretary and ! unofficial members of this Coun- vil. We now present our teport in the form of the amended printance coolies would be commien- bearing to-day's date.
surate with the expenditure in-
WARNING
circumstances, to proceed with the complete scheme as
Mr. 1. R. Butters, commended by the Health Au-
The Hon,
the thorities, considerable doubt was
Finaneral Secretary, moving expressed as to whether the bone-
Brst reading of the appropriation its to be gained by the substitu
petrol warning that tion of coolies employed by Gov-bill, gave
the existing free-rating might be necessary. He
sand:
The duty on light oils, that
Crnment for
As foreshadowed in the speech | volved: it was decided, however, I petrel, was increased to BU centa
per gallon on the 7th November, 1940. The object of the increase in petrol duty is, by reducing con- sumption, to conserve foreign ex- It is change and save tankerage. nut intended as a ducing measure.
revenue pro-
for
I am authorised to state the information of Honourable Members and as a warning to the public that if this measure falle
object, in its primary namely, to reduce consumption particularly in respect of pri vate cars, the rationing of petrol may have to be introduced.
|
leeway must be made up as soon as possible, but surely it is noth- ing less than lunacy to spend large sums on elaborate hospitals and police stations on the surface of the ground while at the same ime we are building a network of air raid shelter tunnels under it.
I am very glad indeed that the Government have agreed to for include an extra $100,000 the University, of which the re venue has been so badly re- duced by the fall in the value of the Chinese National Dollar that it can barely carry on in a manner befitting the Colony. Our prestige is at stake, and it seems to me we should either run the University efficiently, or not at all.
Lightly Taxed
Honourable
with
"Before fresh taxation is imposed to meet this need, a Comunission (pre ferably a Royal Commission) be set up to investigate the whole organisa- tion of civil government in this Colony with a view to ascertaining whether
to
economies effect It is possible which would permit of a substantial Increase in the programme of social
undue increase services without taxation,"
Pressing Need
of
of the Honourable Financial Se-
that the provision for the emolu cretary on 16th January the pro-
ments of the 2,000 coolies shouldi
We realise that the present vision for the construction of
abe allowed to stand in the draft
situation renders it impossible for new Lighthouse Tender has been estimates on the understanding
this recommendation to be car- excised
that no actual expenditure will
the same Com- ried out, but if It has also been decided not be incurred without the specific
mittee is reconstituted this year, to proceed during the coming fin-approval of the Finance Cominit-
I hope they will repeat this re- aucial year with the building of
the My
friend lee after further consideration of
commendation in their 1941 re- the proposed new block of offices the whole matter. There was in-
Financial Secretary considers It
port, lest 1940's be pigeon-holed and quarters at the Central Po- sunmicient time, when this item
inevitable that we increase our and forgotten. lice Station, though a token voto came for consideration, to reach a
need for a There is pressing War Taxation and favours an In-
system of $50,000 remains in the draft anal decision on this important
come Tax rather than an increase thorough overhaul of a estimates to cover any expendi- | question and the Finance Cummit-
in the present War Revenue Or-which has raised the total of per- ture that may have been incurred the desires an early opportunity
dinance rates. Except as regardssonal emoluments to such a fabu- in the preparatory work of draw-o a full discussion with the
the Sulary Tux, I am not affected lous sum that the Colony's taxable ing up plans, etc.
Health Authorities, upon which
The increase in the duty on by our local taxation, my Com- capacity in normal times is not providing what Similarly the Select Commit- will depend the question of au- heavy oils to be used as fuel for pany being registered at Home. equal to also tee felt that the times are not thorising actual expenditure.
heavy oil road vehicles from 30 My views therefore are perhaps should be provided for our social sufficiently propitious and the The following
services. are the items to 40 cents per gallon and the suspect. In comparison plans not sufficiently matured to which have been omitted or re-imposition of a duty of 10 cents Home taxation the Colony is of permit the building of the produced:-
per gallon on other hydrocarbon j course ridiculously lightly taxed. posed new Infectious Diseases
At the same time, i am not in Harbour Department. Personal oils (Kerosene) hitherto untaxed, Hospital at the Kowloon Me Emoluments.
favour of Increasing taxation on Crew for New with effect in both cases from the
the low level incomes. Lighthouse Tender $3,471.
16th January, 1941, are, as
Married men with salaries The Budget Committee realises
New Lighthouse Tender $800,- dicated in my speech to this Coun- that this hospital is recommended 000.
I am quite sure that the execu- cil on that day, revenue producing around say $10,000 per annum are
of the Government in the Technical
I know finding it increasingly dir- tive heads Committee's report, 1938-1939, as for New Infectious Diseases Hos-
Medical Department, Equipment measures.
ficult to make ends meet, Cost of staffed these departments not with the first major item in a long-term pital $103,590.
living statistics show a very sub-men they considered to be suit- programme but it feels that, apart
stantial rise and those young mur-able for the jobs, but with senior ried men with evacuated families men they had either to find jobs BRIEF SPEECH
and two households to maintain, for or penslön off long before their The Hon. Mr. J. J. Paterson, should receive greater considera- pensionable age. Although they opening the debate for the un-tion in the allowances for wives probably won't admit it, they officials sold: It is usual for the and children, provided they pay know in their heart of hearts that themselves. I am also ter has made it clear that he wants deal with those matters on which penses we are all agreed and in which no strongly, in favour of exempting to rid himself of much of the ver- charitable contributions from biage and red tape in which the member has
any very Turning to the other side of the other
This is done at Home service abounds. Let us pray that, This procedure taxation. picture, the new or additional Special interest,
and if it isn't done here our at the end of this war, he will go duties on table waters, hydrocar- this year leaves me little to say,
further, and see that it is placed that, bon oils and liquor which
We have written. Your Excel- charities will surely suffer.
on a more businesslike and work- able footing. imposed
with effect from 10th leney about the conduct of some of: Government's affairs which we January have necessitated a ге
dical Centre.
Hospitalisation
Public Works Extraordinary. from difficulties of providing the Central Police Station New necessary building materials, this Block (Reduced from $800,000 to is not the time or place to em- $50,000) $750,000. bark immediately on this hospital. Infectious Diseases Hospital
MR. PATERSON'S
in-
The paucity, and mediocrity of the executive material avail- able this year to fill the special war time departments has, I think, confirmed my last year's criticism up to the hilt.
The sum of $100,000 has however ] (Reduced from $500,000 to $100,- Unofficial opening the debate to their evacuation maintenance ex- this is the case. The Prime Minis--
been provided which is larger 000) $400,000. than the usual "token vote" in case it may be possible in the coming year to make a sturt.
for and
revenue
New Duties
were
The provision of funds for the equipment of this hospital has been omitted as it is felt apart from the uncertainty which surrounds the hospital itself, there are at least hopes of considerable vision of the estimate. of revenue: emergency stores being available
from Duties will, it is during the coming financial year. now estimated, amount to $15, Under Charitable Services provi-690,000 Instead of $13,740,000. sion has been made for a grant of $10,000 to the British Fund
The estimated deficit of $7,- Relief of Distress in China
553,776 shown in the draft esti under. Miscellaneous Services, in
mates as presented on 16th response to pressing representa-
January is, thus reduced to $3,856,716. - tions from the University Authori- ties,
the annual grant to the. University of Hong Kong has been Increased by the sum of $100,000. Nightsoil Plan In Abeyance The Select Committee also brought under review the matter
sudly feel to be bad.
Iniquities Of Bill
MR. M. K. LO'S SPEECH
I am convinced that a change This will we hope be dealt
do from the present compromise with at another time; wa wonder how it is that, alone of taxution to a straight income tax All the Bervices and unlike the would lead to the same unfar-
The Senlor Chinese Unofficial, business world, no member of tupate opposition that it encoun-
ever tered last year, Rather I think we the Hon, Mr. M. K. Lo said: I our local Heavenborn 18
iron out have very little..to say on the- dismissed for inefficiency. Per. should endeavour to haps the answer la that none is some of the iniquities of the pre- Budget now before this Council, sent Bill. There must surely be which represents the result of the ever Ineffiolent.
in knowing deliberations of the Select Com- The budget is a good budget and a great advantage on behalf of all the unofficials-what revenue it produced on the mittee to which the Draft Estim
ates were referred. partments and every item of Pub- Secretary for the very great care of Special Expenditure in all de- would like to thank our Financial basis of 1930.
On that of 1940, even at the It is a matter for regret that same rate, it should produes | certain desirable items have had ilc Works Extraordinary requires he has taken of the Colony's fin-
more, wheras to force an in- to be deleted from the Draft the independent sanction of Goy-} anges, ernment apart from the general
But, In view of the. We have suggested the post- come tax on an unwilling Chin. Estimates.
ese population might easily lead budgetary position and the uncer- provision offered by the Appro-ponement of various works which
we belleve can very woll keep to our getting less revenue and (Continued on Page 3) priation Bill.
Lastly, I would remind Hon- ourable Members, that every item
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