OOP Y. S 470
Enclosure No. 5 to Despatch No. 134 of the 2nd April, 1902
Hon. Colonial Secretary,
C.0 17380 RECU REGE 5 MAY 2
Paragraph 12, concluding portion. There appears to be some misapprehension in the mind of the Secretary of State regarding the increase which has occurred in this Department. A reference to the Estimates of 1891 will show that the amounts voted for the Surveyor-General's and Water and Drainage Departments, now combined under the Public Works Department, aggregated $103,333. The amount for this year is $139,701.
When it is considered that there has been, during the period covered, a general increase of salaries; that the New Territory has been taken over; that Waterworks have been established for the supply of 53,700 people in Kowloon, 14,300 in Shaukiwan and 9,000 in Aberdeen; that the City and Hill District Waterworks have been largely increased and that there has been a great expansion in the City of Victoria and in Kowloon, besides the great additions made to the work of the Department by recent legislation, the increase must, I think, be regarded as small.
If compared with the increase in the Sanitary Department, the figures for which for the same years are $55,997 and $197,973 respectively, the increase appears trivial. It should not be lost sight of that the introduction of real and lasting improvements in the sanitary condition of the Colony depends upon the sufficiency and efficiency of the Staff of this Department; the duties of the Sanitary Department being confined largely to combating the evils which have arisen through defective laying out in its early years.
(Sd.) Chatham
28th January, 1902