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HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1936.
"WIDOWS AND ORPHANS" FUND CRITICISED BY HON. MR. J.J. PATERSON
HON. MR. PATERSON {gether with those of the Colonial that whether one settled or did
li
Hon. Mr. Paterson, said:-Slet. Since Sir Henry Pollock made his budget speech last year Your Ex- cellency has arrived in this Co- lony and the Unofficial Members
wish that your advent could have coincided with a greater measure of prosperity in the Colony you have to govern, a wish Your Ex- cellency probably shares?
It remains for the Uncinela) Members to assure you of their understanding of the difficulties all those who may be charged with the administration of this Colony
must be faced with to-day and to wish Your Excellency and Lady Caldcott a very hearty welcome.
We join with the Colonial Se- cretary in expressing our grail- tude 10 Messrs. Tratman and Breen for all they have done for Hong Kong and with him we wish them, every happiness in the fu ture. We congratulate Mr. N. L. Smith and ourselves on his pro- motion and reappointment to this Colony.
In the absence of Sir Henry Pol- lock I have been asked by my col- leagues to make sotne general observations on the budget for 1837 and on events leading up to
ADMIRABLE MEMORANDUMS
It's usual, to congratulate the Colonial Secretary on the excel lent manner which he has presented his budget, on this oc- casion we can do so with more fervour than usual, the memor- andum he has had prepared to-
›
Treasurer and D.P.W, are admir- able. We wonder though whether the formula adopted for the Fub- He Works
Department where items of expenditure are, discuss- ed across the table could not be extended to other spending de- partments,
Perhaps I may be forgiven if at the outset refer to exchange. Since
Henry Sir
Pollock spoke last year we have seen the rate slide stea- dily to its present level, one at which we are very closely allled to the Standard Dollar and which most of us consider the proper thing to be.
But because of this Government's immediate finances have suffered.
a statement shewing how this not settle the years would strike fund has operated in the past a balance.
and how it is proposed to carry it And so they would if nobody on in the future for can assure had fixed the dollar but had the you Sir that if in the saber world plan been adopted, always to set-uf business, so far removed from tle, Government could in the past High Olympus, any employer of a have known exactly at any given large staff tried to drive so hard
a bargain he could never hope to keep his people contented.
time' what its commitments were
and expressed them in the coin of the Colony, more recently 'the taxpayer would have been saved a lot, perhaps more correctly in the light of the present budget the motorist and the Civil Ser- vant.
THE SALARY CUT
The Retrenchment Commission descent dealt with the settling of ox- change in paragraph 5 of its Re- port on the Treasury. Govern- ment cannot say it wasn't told!
Which brings me to the salary While I remark rather sadly
Perhaps I am being blatantly hindwise when I say that to some extent this loss might have been 'I cul avoldee
that
INVIDIOUS POSITION
Government was in an invid- fous position. It must have known to about what level the Hong Kong dollar was headed. The Unothielais knew nothing. they did
however ask that so far as was
such bilsters are no new things among the unofficial com- munity, this in no way dampens the enthusiasm with which the ninety and nine welcome the sin- ner Into the fold especially as those of the mercantile commun-
וּי
POUR BEREDICKS!
As an flustration I think
correction of an abuse. That this
I would like to go even further, by the recent typhoon on the roads in the New Territories as well as In Kowloon will soon be replaced. "
"In this connection, I would urge
Some information might be ase fully given on the question of the water supply to the Castle Peak district. Beyond the bare official statement that a scheme
amall supply Colony last year, some indication wne Investigated in the of the intention of the Govern ment regarding the prosecution of this scheme should be forthcoming.
PUBLIC HEALTH AFENACE,
may not be easy we admit but at j and state that Government should least the beneficiaries of a sub- Immediately take in hand what I scriber from now on should in might describe sa agential coad avery case get out the money put works in, with reasonable interest.
Liability for this fund is not the completion of the road from shewn in the Colony's accountsArgyle Street u Tam Kung Road. though the Directors of public and It only requires the widening and private companies are forced very surfacing of the path from the ap- properly to declare the true and prosch road to the new Central correct view of the state of the British School to the Riding I'm Company's affales including con- School-a length of about 300 or correct in saying that a bachelor,
tingent liabilities and Govern-
400 yards to provide the logical though he may have subscribed ment might well remember the
connection by road between Kow- to the Pool all his life, yet only parable of the mote and the beam. loon Toas, geta back half his subscription on
Mongkok, Kowloon
For the benefit of many re- It must be remembered how- Hospital, etc. on the one hand.sidents in retirement or his estate that half ever that a great number in this and Hunghom and Tokwawan on
various parts of the Peninsula I should like to urge. on death.
community have. no persion and
the other. Does it not appear for the serious I do not see
consideration of why Benedicks"] no "Frovident Fund, any provision strange that the Kowloon Hospital the Medical and Sanitary Depart- should be penalized.
they can make must be by their cannot be reached from anywhere ments, that market gardens situat Perhaps the answer K this, own efforts. not easy In these
at Tokwawan by car without hav- that his fund Was started
ed in the immediate vicinity of re- by days.
ing to travel the circuitous road (aldential places should be private enterprise when such
com- things were by no means common
round to Kowloon City?
pletely done away with. Com-. and when modern and more or
plaints are constantly made that less established procedure had
the gardeners are in the habit of not been laid down Had man-
treely using nightsoil as a fertill- ser, and no number of warnings deters them carrying on nuisance.
the which is 1 serious menace to public health.
CUTTING EUROPEAN STAFF Letters have appeared 1 the Press which seem to suggest that Hong Kong is in process of cutting agement of the monies been left to European Staff to below those the beneficiaries no doubt the rules levels usual in other Crown Co- would have been brought up" to | lonles I think I'm correct In date but Government sequestered | saying that so far from this being the proceeds
process despite unofficial the case Government merely is in of coming on to parity with them, and has quite a long way to go yet.
ity who can look to benefit from protest and.rude people say used them to build the Kowloon/Canton Rallway.
Provident Fund or similar scheme appreciate that if the details given recently in a local paper of the "Widows and" Orphans" be true, or anywhere near true, then
CORRECTION OF ABUSE
The Unofficial Members fully
possible sterling commitments salaries excepted) be covered and they remark rather sadly now unofficial money. Or that it waLS-
and not forgetting pensions, wi- realize that in starting this hare at least it originally was the pro- perty of the tax-payers of Hongdows and orphans are in posses they may well be adding to the ex- Kong.
penses of this Colony if that portorists have to sion of a very bad bargain, one that would make an insurancetion of the balances required can- man shudder.
not be earmarked to his end but in common fairness they feel they must emphasize and ask for the
·
le
But I believe the fault to deeper than a these recent years. Government has always argued that its policy was never to fix.
As the cat is now out of the bag may we ask Government to Issue
Had I only been warned!"
DANGER
SIGNALS
Susceptibility to illness (one catches infection very easily).
Inability to withstand changes in temperature.
}
General Weakness (low vitality, fatigue, dizzi- ness).
Nerve troubles, nervous headaches, etc.
Tooth decay
(a sign that the mineral reserves of the body are" exhausted).
Colds of long duration.
In Worien.
(Wenities and pains in k.....complaints.)
ון
**I have been a sufferer' "írous-sevare period pains for that seven yourz
After taking KALZANA
I found total disappear.
ance of the dreadful
pakis, also my general health has so much im- proved that I cannot sp sal
too highly of Kalzana. No one could have suffered mare acutely than myself, being incapable of attending my work, and it has given me great joy to recommend to maxy others *tivation."
1
my
Mim E. R., R. England.
That is what many a woman thinks, who feels her youth disappearing long before she is old in years. It is a sign of a lack of minerals in her body.. showing itself in many minor symptoms. What has happened is this-The sap has been drained from the tree, the strength and suppleness are gone, she suddenly finds herself easily fatigued growing old. If nothing is done, serious illness may follow.
As in all hot countries the lack of Iminerals is especially widespread. Do not delay in giving your body the vital -minerals it needs. Start with Kalzana to-day! Kalzana will put youth and strength into your body, for minerals are the backbone of health and Kalzana the ideal mineral food.
Be a woman warned and act while. there is still time. Do not wait till the flesh is flabby and headaches and anæmia have taken all the youth out of you.
old
Remember that these troubles of premature age are simply due to the fact that some- thing is missing in your body, something that can be replaced easily by a few Kalzana tablets a day.
Start taking Kalzana to-day and soon you will enjoy health and vitality again.
Kalzana
THE MINERAL FOOD FOR BETTER HEALTH
Obtainable at all Chemists and Stores.
There is tile to say about the general budget." # Very good one under the circumstances we think though some of the officials may not see eye to eye with us.. Mo-
face
Increased taxation but they have been and are being given greater facilities, nothing in what's been said higher up mast be construed as detract-
THROUGH ROAD
Another path which should be
similarly treated is the one run- ning parallel with the railway be- tween Waterloo Road and King's Park, thereby providing a through motor road from Waterloo Road to Gascoigne Road, and considerably shortening the distance from Ko loon Tong and Homuntin to King's Park and Chatham Road.
I submit that the cost of these two very necessary improvements would be inconsiderable and would be fully justifled. The saving of time which would be effected to and from the Star Ferry whari would be of great benefit
Government is to be commend- ed for having widened the junc- tion of Waterloo Road and Argyle
Much can be said regarding the unsatisfactory condition of the Homuntin Cemetery. It is a sert- ously debateable question whether the shutting down of
this ceme-
tery for more burials and its trans- er out of a central residential area has not now become Imperative. At any rate, the matter is one that should be looked into by the Pre- sident of the Urban Council.
PLAYGROUNDS
ing from our gratitude for Civi Street. This used to be a danger should also be
Service sacrifices.
HON. MR. J. P. BRAGA
Hon. Mr. Braga sald:
Your Excellency.- propose to direct my remarks on a few sub- jects more as a matter of policy than in criticism of the Budget proposals. We are passing through admittedly "depressed times calling
for sympathy and co-operative ef- forts in an earnest endeavour to provide a solution to real difcul- ties.
I cannot recall past programmes of Public Works Extraordinary of major, Importance appearing with- out a single item. as is the case for 1937. The only item of sequence is scheduled under "Loan Works" for the commencement of
con-
nar-
spot for, traffic, but where Water loo Road should be at its widest viz.. at its junction with Nathan Road) it is actually at its rowest. The dangerous bend at this point should be eliminated and thus make more room for the daily growing traffic flowing into Nathan Road.
These are outstanding roud works not involving a great deal of money calling for immediate attention In Kowloon," I shall now deal with road requirements in the New Territories
Thanks, I feel, are due for the construction of a new motor road through splendidly wooded country full of wild bird life from upper Shatin Road leading to the Shing Mun Valley!
GROWING TOWNSHIP
The health of the community catered to by allocating more open spaces and playgrounds, especially ux congest- ed areas. This is notoriously lacking In the Homuntin district. Chil-. dren in this locality can be seen in large numbers daily making use ⠀ of the public roadways for games.
It has been truthfully saki that we have the sea on almost every side of us and yet, the majority of the citizens of this Colony are denied the amenities of its bathing beaches. It is the duty of the Gov- ernment to make ample provision at least for the better health of its people, and a special point should be made to provide more public bathing beaches, especially on the Peninsula, with proper facilities for dressing, which, should be made easily accessible to the residents of the Colony next sum- mer. The minority class of the
a new Central Market. This being With the completion of Taun well-to-do can afford their well- the case, attention is necessarily Wan Market, this district is gra-appointed, glorified pavilions and drawn to the question of the gen-dually assuming the air of a grow shacks. What about the majority eral staff of the Public Works De-ing township The motor high- of the middle class who are 24 partment. It may appear anomal-way in the vicinity of the village little provided with an abundance. ous, however, that, without any is now much too narrow for the of money and as badly off for a lot large-scale public works, the Bud- daily increasing traffic, and when of time after office hours to in- get should be burdened with ar- it is remembered that the open dulge in this most popular form of chitects' salaries alone amounting ground by the roadside is utilised healthful and beneficial recrea to $157,209 in 1937,
by the enterprising owners of the tion? Government may take a UNSATISFACTORY POSITION
pineapple plantations as an open timely hint in earmarking definite market for retailing the luscious large beach areas in Hebe Haven While inviting your Excellency's fruit with the harvesting of the with the completion of the Cus- attention to what strikes me asi midsummer crop, the roads office toms Pass Road extension. A re- more or less an unsatisfactory of the P.W.D. might usefully con- petition of the reserves in. Repuise position, I would like to oder a sider the provision of a very neces- Bay and Sheke must be avoided suggestion. The eleven architects sary road, improvement in this
at all cost. 1 are technical officers with acquired district. In particular, I trust Gov- BROADCASTING IMPROVEMENT; experience who are not easily re- ernment will immediately.. widen placeable, and for that reason full
the dangerous bend in the road advantage should be taken of their just before Tsun Wan is reached. available professional services at the present time in making pre- parations and plans for the future construction of major public works when funds eventually become avallable, such as the Post Office and Government omces in Kow- loon. Both these are referred to in the report of the Director of Public Works for 1935. An im- portant extension of the Kowloon Hospital, viz. the maternity wards for Chinese patients, should not be further delayed,
HAIRPIN BENDS
Speaking as a member of the Broadcasting. Committee, I am aware of the big improvement that is about to take place when the Again, there are stul several
new shortwave transmitter is in- sharp hairpin bends near the Kow-stalled. and the great benefit to loon Reservoir which are a post-shipping on the high, seas and its tive danger to trafic, The Roads publicity value to Hong Kong. It Engineer probably finds his limita has long been felt that the Chinese tions in the indispensable provision | licencees 'do not receive the maxi- of funds. The restriction need not mum service from the Broadcast- be carried, to the point of continuing Studio, through no fault of the ing a condition that is considered latter. There is this to be sald unsafe for speedy wheeled traffe, both for the Committee of the The bridge at the Reservoir and Studio and for the Government: another in Shatin Valley at Tal that the apparent neglect of the Wa village just before reaching | Chinese ́may not be put down to the railroad tracks, both require discriminatory influences. In real- I am making no reflection on the to be replaced. They are too narity it is the mechanical deficiency holder of the office designated as row for two "Inspector of Furniture" on p. 97
cars to pass abreast that has to be made good.. This of the draft Estimates: but it ed. I am sure, to take the heavy attributed to the
and, furthermore, were not design-deficiency, again, cannot be justly
technical staff. - seems open to question if it is reads now carried over them daily. Physical needs have to be provid ally necessary that an officer such shatin village road is also capable ed. In the first place by entary- as described should be paid a ster of widening. The motorist, especi- ing the accommodation, which is ling salary equivalent to $8.560 next ally in view of the higher taxation far too limited for the increasing year. If in the discharge of his duties no special technical qual has a right to expect that these the Studio equipment, and, in the fications are called for, then in matters should receive prompt second place, by a more powerful the interest of economy the pre-
transmitter than Z.E.K., which is sent post is one that should be transferred to the dollar grade as
admittedly weak. provides al¦, the soon as possible.
moment,
ECONOMY
ROADS VOTE INSUFFICIENT
on petrol and motor car licences, demands on the technical side of
attention.
Without great expense also cer- tain parts of the Castle Peak and Talpo Roads could be widened to give more room for pedestrians
CHINESE LICENCE HOLDERS
I still regard the Roads Main- and people carrying bulky loads I believe very strong arguments tenance Vote as wholly insuf-where they might be clear of motor can be advanced for equipping the clent. To neglect roads so that traffic. Trees at present along the studio with both Increased ac- they fall into a state of such seri- road need not be removed, but commodation and a more power- ou disrepair as can be pointed could mark the boundary for mo- ful apparatus. Figures have, I un- out in Kowloon and the New Ter- for traffic, and behind the trees anderstand. been prepared that ritories during the current year, is extra stretch could be added to Justify the expense that will have a policy that works out much more the road for use by, pedestrians to be incurred in order to make expensively in the long run. On only. this subject I would like to state that the Kowloon Residents' As- sociation has requested me" pub- licly to bring this question to the notice of your Excellency and this Council
ו .
UPROQTED TREES
In speaking of trees, I feel that attention need only be drawn for the Botanical & Forestry Depart- ment to see that those uprooted
better provision to cater for Chi nese licence holders, who can easi ly be, increased, so it is estimated, by more than double the present number. If, this estimate, which ⠀
(Continued on Page 6).
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