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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
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Excellency in every way possible, and 1 will now take this opportunity of Bay- iug and am practically certain that my colleagues will thoroughly endorse what I say that we entirely agree with all the remarks made with regard to His Majesty's appeal to the country. I regret to learn that there are as many as 150 men of working age in the Colony who might be in the Volunteers, Police, or any of these volunteer services who are not yet there. I hope before many days are over that this disgrace will be removed.
With regard to the Police, your Excel- loncy made some remarks with reference to men who take increased advantages of the opportunities the generosity of the Government gives them by increased allowances and pay, to return home at more frequent intervals. That, of course, is entirely carrying out what the un- official members spoke of last year, but I should like to see it go still further. We trust that in time the Government will be able to see their way to make it compulsory on these men who have these bonuses that they should be compelled to leave this Colony for a certain number of weeks at a certain given time, and that the bonuses should not be given to anyone who does not leave the Colony. The idea is that it would be much better for the men's health, and would result in benefit to the service in which they are engaged a man should leave the Colony, if only for a few weeks, every year, and I trust that will be made com pulsory.
private moorings by the Government. We thought it unnecessary, and we think so even more now in view of the condi- tions now prevailing, and I therefore pro as I have already notified the pose, Colonial Secretary, to move an amend ment that these two items should be deleted from the Estimates next year, It is not necessary for me to go over old ground, I set out fully last year my We are reasons for opposing this scheme. of opinion as practical business that the taking over of these moorings by the Government is unnecessary, and will involve not only very considerable capital expenditure on behalf of the Colony, but also a very great additional charge on shipping, particularly at A time when charges on shipping should be reduced. We have a regular staff of men, boats, tugs, and so forth, part of which are engaged in looking after our moorings. We cannot reduce our ex- penditure in this direction, although the moorings cease to be our private pro- perty, and we shall have to pay, as I aid last year, what we consider a very heavy tax for the use of these moorings. and also have to introduce a system of what is practically compulsory pilotage, That we all consider unnecessary. I nover engage a pilot to take my ships to a mooring in the Harbour, but when a ship arrive and any uncertainty arises I should have to send for a pilot. This means extra charges which in the aggregate amount to a large sum at the end of the year. Therefore, unofficial members oppose this expenditure, even stronger this year than they did last. and, as I say I shall move an amendment, the only point to which I will refer because I think one of my frienda ment against that.
With regard to war expenditure, I is going to speak on the subject later— cannot quule your Excellency's words,
"we gladly accept it". and asy bave
it,
but we prepared to go on paying our share of that expenditure, which is entailed upon this Colony as part of the great Empire of which we are proud to be citizens. The struggle in which we are engaged we realise is practically one if life and death, and it has got to be prosecuted absolutely to a finish, and that fio ish can only be a permanent and satisfactory peace. To that end, and that end alone, the whole of the energies of the Empire, and consequently this be little ection of the Empire, will devoted, and whatever aid or assistance Ls to your Excellency way call upon render to that end will be gladly
to
accept
we
ате
rendered, We will gladly support your
!
Coming now to the Medical Depart-
is the question of the reduction of the nurses. Your Excellency pointed out that the nurses were reduced by two, and tho staff increased by six probationer So far as probationer dressers dressers.
doubt they are of are concerned, no valuable assistance to the service, but in discussing the Estimates for 1914, in November, of 1913, I had a good deal to Any on the subject, and unofficial mem- bers expressed their views rather strongly. At that time the staff was as follows:
Matron, 9 Sisters. 2 Sisters for private At the nursing, and 5 probationers. nresent moment the
is:-1 staff Matron. 7 Bisters, 2 private nurses, 1 Nurse 1 probationer, and probationer dressers. It is not necessary for me to repeat all the arguments brought forward at the time, but I will read a section f