450
paid to pawnbrokers in certain cases. The object of this Bill is to assimilate our local law that in force in England by empowering the Court, if it thinks fit, to award some com- pensation to a pawnbroker, in cases where property, which has been wrongfully obtained or illegally pawned, is restored to the true owner. As our law at present stands, the Court possesses no such power, and it seems desirable to remedy the defect.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to second. I think in justice to pawnbrokers the Bill ought to become law. I have known of cases where pawnbrokers have suffered very severely owing to the statute law not contain- ing means whereby they can be awarded com- pensation in particular instances.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
December 9, 1898.
and to afford any information which may be | 1896, viz, $2,495,000, the mi required as we go along.
On the item
read.
PENSIONS.
'Pensions, $129,000" being
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD said there seemed to be no limit to the number of pensions.
The CHAIRMAN-The pension rule, with which I have no doubt the hon. member is acquainted, is that no person is entitled to a pensiou unless he has fulfilled the conditions of the contract he entered into with the Government. Most of us will have to stay out here thirty years before
our contract is fulfilled.
THE POST OFFICE.
In regard to the item "Post Office, $207,361," Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD said-Will the Go- Bill read the second time.
vernment give the Finance Committee a state- Council went into Committee.
ment showing the net result of the working of Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I should like to the Post Office during the past three years; say a word or two. Clause 2 of section 2 says that is, the total revenue received and the total that any goods and chattels brought before expenditure of each year. I tried to fish this the Court bave been unlawfully pawned with a information out of the draft estimates, but with pawnbroker." It may be an impossibility to all my knowledge of figures and accounts bring some goods and chattels before the Court.generally I was not able to get it from these I think it is as well to say "any goods and chat- estimates; otherwise I would not have asked the tels referred to or in question." There may be
question. goods of such a size as to prevent them from being brought into Court.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER-Those goods could not be taken into a pawnshop. (Laughter). Goods taken into a pawnshop can
be taken into Court.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL This Bill is borrowed from the home Act on the subject.
The objection was not pressed further. Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-At the foot of the Bill it says "according to the conduct of the owner and the other circumstances of the case." I think the conduct of the pawnbroker should be taken into consideration. It is scarcely the conduct of the owner of the goods that is in question, but the conduct of the pawnbroker.
Hon. Ho KAI suggested the addition of the words" and the pawnbroker" after the word "owner."
"
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL agreed and the alteration was made.
+
Council resumed and the Bill was read the third time.
THE PROBATES ORDINANCE.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Laws re- lating to Probates and Letters of Administration in this colony. This Bill, sir, has attached to it s memorandum which explains very fully the objects of the Bill, and that memorandum has been in the hand of the members of the Council for some days and I do not think I can usefully add anything to what is contained in that memorandum. I may mention, sir, that his Honour the Chief Justice was good enough to assist me in the compilation of this Bill, and therefore we have the benefit of his knowledge and experience in these matters.
|
The CHAIRMAN-There will be no difficulty in furnishing you with the information you require.
Hon. C. P. CHATER agreed that it was impossible to get this information from the estimates. Payments were made two or three years after time and therefore they could not find out the exact position year by year.
LIGHTHOUSES.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD, on the item" "Light- houses, $16.$70," being read, asked-Will the Government give us a statement showing the annnal cost for the last three years of the Gap Rock and other lighthouses and the amount of the Gap Rock light dues:
The CHAIRMAN-I think it would have been more convenient if that question had been asked in Council.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-There are items included in certain ways which one outside the Government cannot possibly ascertain. I have tried to find out what the figures are from the estimates and it is impossible to find them.
The HARBOUR MASTER-I think the infor- mation has been afforded the Council from time to time. It is rather a difficult matter to get it, and I question whether a good purpose will be served in the end.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS men- tioned that to answer some of the hon. member's questions meant running through hundreds of vouchers for the sake of $2 or $3.
The HARBOUR MASTER~The time will come when each department will want an extra clerk to answer all the hon. member's questions.
The CHAIRMAN—If the figuies can be get at approximately I am sure they will be satis- factory to the hon. member.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I think the remarks about the extra clerks are totally The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. uncalled for. I think it is rather a good thing Bill read the second time and referred to the than otherwise for them to have a little extra Law committee.
*
ADJOURNMENT,
His EXCELLENEY then adjourned the Council until next Monday.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was then held. Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart (Colonial Secretary) presided and all the mem- bers were present.
VOLUNTEER EXPENSES.
work to do in order that they may find employ- ment. (Laughter.) I do not refer to the
Director of Public Works.
The HARBOUR MASTER-I do not know what the hon. member knows about the Director of Public Works' business or anybody else's
business.
The item was recommended. the COLONIAL
|
ution
ices;
payable for 1897 will be $30, be paid in 1896. It is true required to be contributed for barr but I'should like to receive an expl the increase of $21,000 in the con wards military purposes seeing revenue is estimated at $56,000 less than
The CHAIRMANI have not omitted quire for the information asked nd the Treasurer will furnish the inform tion
The
1896
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASU hon. member has failed to observe that sales have to be deducted from revenue before the contribution can be calculated. The revised estimate for 1896 this year is only $2,297,604, but the military contribution put down for this year was based on the estimate of revenue made last year. That revenue is, exclusive of land sales, $2,218,366, and the estimated re- venue for next year is $2,338,823.
The CHAIRMAN-I trust the information is satisfactory,
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I should like to know how it is that land sales are estimated at only $100,000 for 1897, seeing that in the Governor's address the revenue for 1896 was stated to he $250,000.-
The CHAIRMAN-Land sales are very un- certain and in framing the estimates it is neces- sary to take them into careful consideration No military contribution is chargeable on land sales and therefore it does not affect the military contribution whatever is estimated for land sales. There seems to be a misapprehen- sion on that point.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-As we understand it. $147,000 is the total sum to be spent for barrack services in 1897. May I ask if the hon. member on my right (the Director of Public Works) is consulted when these plans are made and the contracts entered into ? We know the hon. member has more experience about building operations here than anyone in the military service.
The CHAIRMAN That is quite true. I am quite certain he has a much larger experience, but his time is limited and he is fully occupied to find time to do the military work. When the new military road was proposed the Director of Public Works was asked if he would under- take the work, but he could not do so and an auswer to it effect had to be sent to the military authorities. It must also be remembered that a final statement of the barracks already erected has never been but when it is I am afraid it drawn up, will be found that this colony is not on the right side. I can assure the Committee that accounts will be rendered and each member will have an opportunity of seeing them.
with Government work. He would not be able
Hon. E.R. BELILIOS-I contend that with the experience of the Director of Public Works we can get these contracts done at a cheaper rate.
·
The CHAIRMAN-It is something unusual for unofficial members to praise the cheapness of Government work.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-I do not praise the cheapness; I want the work done in a fair and reasonable manner
The CHAIRMAN-I do not think that is a good reflection to cast upon the military. I do not think it is fair to reflect that they do not get things done at the very best price.
H.E. Major-General BLACK-I gather that
SECRETARY saying that the information would you think the military may not care whether be obtained as accurately as possible.
THE CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS BARRACKS
SERVICES.
Hon. C. P. CHATER asked for particulars ✅ The CHAIRMAN brought up a minute in which the Governor recommended the Council respecting the item "Contribution towards Bar- to vote a sum of $1,450 in aid of the vote" Ex-rack Services, $49,000." fenses of the Volunteers." He explained
H. E. Major-General BLACK said that that the money ` was in excess of the half of the Hongkong Regiment was housed in estimates and the increase was dus chiefly | Whitfield Barracks and arrangements were to the establishment of a camp at Stonecutters being made for the whole of the regiment to Island and the extra expenses involved in con- nection with itd.
Vote recommended.
4) The Appropriation Bill.
The CHAIRMAN The Dext business is the consideration of the supplies for 1897 and I propose, with the concurrence of the Committee, to follow the practice adopted in previous years take ench item of the Bill as it occurs
be housed in similar barrack rooms.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-$49,000 is one third of the total expenditure !
ing
the work is properly or improperly done. You must remember that, the military have to look after the two-thirds from the Imperial Govern that the money is well spent, and in dou ment and they have to be very careful in they must see that your one-third is also well spent. You cannot dissociate the two.
Hon. E R. BELILIOS The military auth rities change; they are here for only a few yea work. If the expenditure were left to and consequently they are not in the run of Public Works Department they would work much more economically.
The CHAIRMAN The Government staff would
Hon ER BELILIOS That is a questio the Government to decide
H. E. Major-General BLACK-That is so. Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-At the last meet-have to increased. ing of Council I asked that the Finance Com- mittee should be informed how it arises that, with a less total revenue for 1897, viz., $2,438,000, as against the revised estimated revenue for
H.E. Major-General BLACK my hon friend to say that plans
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