received. Whenever a definite decision is received I feel certain His Excellency will communicate it to the Council.
Hon. C. P. CHATER—Under those circumstances I beg to move as an amendment to the Bill that this vote be not passed.
Hon. J. J. KESWICK seconded.
A division was taken, when there voted for the amendment the Hon. A. McConnchie, Hon. E. R. Belilios, Hon. Ho Kai, Hon. J. J. Keswick, and Hon. C. P. Chater (5). Against—The Harbour Master, the Director of Public Works, the Colonial Treasurer, the Attorney-General, and the Chairman (5).
The CHAIRMAN—I give my casting vote against the amendment.
Hon. Ho KAI—I think it has been decided before that the Chairman of the Finance Committee has not a casting vote.
The CHAIRMAN—I think a former Chairman on a previous occasion accepted the position that he had not a casting vote. I believe that I have a casting vote, and I have voted against the amendment. I am as much entitled to give my opinion on the subject as a previous Chairman. I may be wrong or he may be wrong.
At any rate I give my casting vote against the amendment.
Hon. C. P. CHATER—For future guidance I think it would be well to decide definitely whether the Chairman has or has not a casting vote. As you say, a former Chairman decided that he had not and now you decide that you have, I think for the sake of uniformity it should be placed on record whether the Chairman has or has not a casting vote.
The CHAIRMAN—I quite agree with you that it would be better to have a definite ruling on the point, but as no definite ruling has been given I cannot see my way to accept the ruling of a previous Chairman. I think under the circumstances you will feel I am fully justified.
Hon. C. P. CHATER—The amendment having been lost by the casting vote of the Chairman I would request you to bring the matter to the notice of His Excellency the Governor and suggest that it would be well once more to represent to the Secretary of State that although this item is passed it is passed only by the official majority and only with the casting vote of the Chairman, and that as far as the unofficials are concerned they are anxiously awaiting a readjustment of this matter.
The CHAIRMAN—When bringing up the report of the Finance Committee I will make a point of informing His Excellency of what has taken place, and you might do so yourself. It will be placed on record, and of course you will have an opportunity of again expressing your views when the Bill comes up for second reading or when the Council goes into Committee upon it.
The Queen's Statue.
On the vote for Public Works Extraordinary the DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS pointed out that the cost of putting up the Queen's Statue had not been included.
The CHAIRMAN—We were unable to do so before, because the minutes of the last meeting of the Finance Committee, at which the vote was approved, had not been confirmed. I understand hon. members will have no objection to the addition of that sum.
Agreed.
Tytam Waterworks.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS said the sum put down for the Tytam Waterworks extension was $104,000, but he thought the vote that had been approved was $60,000.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS—This item was inserted—I cannot give you the exact date, but when I returned to the Colony I found the extension of the Tytam Waterworks had practically been decided on and the estimate was approximately $60,000. I have no objection to the amount being reduced to that sum. Expenditure can take place unless the plans have been approved by the Public Works Committee.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS moved that the vote be reduced to $60,000.
Hon. Ho KAI seconded.
Carried.
Extension of the Central Police Station.
A sum of $17,000 was put down under the head of "Central Police Station, additional quarters, etc."
Hon. C. P. CHATER—I would like to have some information on this subject. What are those additional quarters? The matter has not been brought before the Public Works Committee yet.
The CHAIRMAN—The matter will of course be brought before the Public Works Committee in due course. The Director of Public Works will be able to explain what this vote is for.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS—It is intended to erect sergeants and constables' quarters on the vacant ground at the north-east of the present police compound, that is, at the junction of Arbuthnot Road and Hollywood Road.
Hon. C. P. CHATER—I understood that piece of ground, which was purchased by the Government twenty-five years ago, was reserved for the Magistracy.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS—The question of removing the Magistracy there was considered at the time of the Gaol extension. Mr. Chater was on the Committee and we were all of opinion it would not be practicable to remove the Magistracy there.
Vote passed.
A Change in Accounts.
The COLONIAL TREASURER—It should be publicly stated, I think, that the appropriations in aid of the different departments have been deducted from expenditure this year. It is a new way of stating it.
The CHAIRMAN—If you look at page 5 of the estimates you will see certain items which this year, instead of being credited as revenue, are credited to the various departments as appropriations in aid. The result of this system, which has been suggested by the Auditor-General at home, is that our gross expenditure will appear less than before. For instance, take the first item, "Contribution from the Imperial Post Office," that was formerly credited to revenue but now it is credited to the Post Office and the expenditure is less by the same amount. The result is that the revenue appears less and the expenditure less. The Treasurer was anxious that I should explain this, as it is a new departure this year.
The COLONIAL TREASURER—Because we are asking for a sum which we have the intention to expend. Of course we shall have to expand the gross amount. I only wish to avoid any misunderstanding.
The Addition to the Sanitary Staff.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS—I do not know whether I am in order in going back to the Public Works Department, $87,496. Does that include the wages and salaries for the new Inspectors?
The CHAIRMAN—Are you referring to the Sanitary Department?
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS—Does not that come under the "Public Works"?
The CHAIRMAN—No. The vote for the Sanitary Department is $74,676. That includes the new Inspectors, certainly. You will see in the estimates a note to the effect that the expenditure to be appointed includes the extra staff which is to be appointed.
The other items of the Bill were discussed, and the Committee agreed to recommend the Bill as amended.
Page 546