.
194
91
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
A considerable increase is shown this year in the Special Expenditure" for the Railway. After the years of war it Das become necessary to have con- siderable renewals of rolling stock and machines. It is proposed to obtain from home the frame-works for 4 new car- riages, which will be built up and com- pleted locally at a total cost of $70,000. Cylinders and tyres require renewing, and votes amounting $10.741 have, there- fore, been inserted. One new locomotive, also. is urgently needed. and a sum of $20,000 is therefore provided for that purpose. A considerable increase in goods traffic is anticipated as conditio.s become more normal, and to cope with this increase and to replace worn-out vehicles it is proposed to provide for 30 Tre w thirty-ton wagons at a cost of $198.333. A vote has also been inserted for additional machines for the work. shops amounting to $15,067.
Under "Construction." also, votes amounting to $2.650 have been inserted for necessary improvements to the line. The net increase in Special Expenditure is, therefore, $305,574.
Pensions
Under the head of "Pensions. hon ourable members will note with regret that the pensions of Sir H. S. Berkeley, Mr. Seth, and Mr. J. Dyer Ball have ceased owing to their deaths.
The resignation of Sir Henry May has already been referred to in this Council, and I am glad to think that his eminent services to the Colony, in which he spent practically the whole of his long official career, are to be suitably commemorated. The pension of another public servant who was for many years Treasurer, Mr. A. M, Thomson, also appears, and among the pensions to be paid will now be that of Mr. D. Jaffe, whose state of health, I regret to say, necessitates his retirement. Among much useful work that he per- formed in connection with the public works of the Colony the building of the dam at Taitam Tuk will always stand B-4 a tribute to his engineering skill.
ment has granted additional sums, mak ing the total up to £104 a year. The pension granted to Mrs. MacFarlane re calls the great loss that the Government! suffered by the sudden death of Dr MacFarlane, whose work as Bacteriol gist had been of the greatest service to the community during the several epide mics. He had also, for some years, done special work for the Dairy Farm Cou pany with very satisfactory results.
Under Charitable Services" there is a new item of $25,000 in aid of local Chinese charities. This sum will be ad- ministered by a Committee, over which the Secretary for Chinese Affairs will preside.
A Warning.
I have now referred to most of the more important details of the estimates. but before concluding I wish to revert for a moment to the totals of revenue and expenditure. It will be observed that the estimates, as framed, show a balans in favour of revenue of something mor than four lakhs of dollars. It is prob able that this balance is under-estimated as the dollar has, for purposes of ster ing payments, been converted at the very safe rate of 3s. But, on the other side. there are two factors to be reckoned with. One is the deficit on rice pur chases, to which I have already allude The other is the fact that whatever may be the exact result of the discussion which have taken place with regard the emoluments of Government servants, it is certain that considerable additiona! expenditure must be incurred on that account. I am confident that no membe: of this Council or of the community will grudge the payment of whatever may be decided upon as necessary for the pur pose of giving adequate remuneration the members of the public service. trust that this important matter may be ttled at no very distant date, but al present it is impossible to make any definite provision in the estimat owing to the difficulty of saying even approximately what amounts are in volved. I have already referred to the sum of $465,000 which has been inserted
J
Among the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions appear the names of the widows | under Miscellaneous Services to meet of two more Police-officers who lost their lives in tragic circumstances, namely, Inspector Terrett and Sergeant Glendin- ning. In both these cases the Govern
the special allowances which are now being paid, and when these allowances cease the money will be available for purposes of such permanent increase in
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
emoluments as may be ultimately ap- proved.
1 mention these two matters now because it is not improbable that the expenditure on them may result in urning the favourable balance of the Estimates into a deficit. 1 do not think, however, that that is a consideration which need cause any hesitation in roting the suns provided in the Estimates. These sumy include very large expendi- ture on works of development, many of which may confidently be expected to prove remunerative at an early date, And I subruit that such works are a pro per charge against the accrued balances of the Colony, which are in a position to stand some reduction and which could not, in my view, be devoted to a better purpose than to furthering the develop ment of the Colony.
With these remarks I submit the Estimates for the consideration of honourable members. I am aware that here are niany matters of importance not dealt with, but I must ask for some measure of indulgence in consideration of the fact that I haw anly recently arrived, and that some time must elapse before I can place definite proposals be- fore the Council for dealing with such questions,
It is proposed to take the second read ing of the Supply Bill on Thursday, October 30th.. if that will meet the con- venience of honourable members, and in the meantime the Colonial Secretary and Treasurer will be glad to afford any in- formation on the subject of the Estimates that may be required.
The Bill was then read a first time and the Council adjourned until the 30th. inst.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee followed, the Colonial Secretary presid ing.
Incidental Police Expenses
The Officer Administering the Govern ment recommended the Council to vote a sum of six hundred and ninety-six dollars (8696) in aid of the vote Police and Prison Departments. A. Police, Other Charges. Incidental Expenses.
912
THE CHAIRMAN This sum is required for expenses incurred in India by Mr. Perdue when recruiting Police.
The vote was agreed to.
Boundary Stones
The Officer Administering the Govern ment recommended the Council to vote a sum of two hundred and twenty dollars (220) in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, Hongkong, Miscellane ous, (23) Boundary Stones,
THE CHAIRMAN-The vote for the boun- dary stones at Cheung Chau to mark out the area under the recent Ordinance. There are 23 boundary stones in all.
The vote was agreed to.
Scavenging
The Officer Administering the Govern- tuent recommended the Council to vote a sum of one thousand, three hundred of the vote dollars (81,300) in aid Sanitary Department, Other Charges, Scavenging City, Villages and Hill Dis. trict-
THE CHAIRMAN-This is required for special scavenging work on account of the recent outbreak of gastroenteritis. The special cleaning out of back lanes was undertaken as it was found that flies were carrying the disease,
The vote was agreed to.
Typhoon and Rainstorm Damages
The Officer Administering the Govern- ment recommended the Council to vote a sum of gine thousand, two hundred dollars (89,200) in aid of the vote Public Works. Recurrent, Hongkong, Miscel laneous (17) Typhoon and Rainstorm Damages.
THE CHAIRMAN The expenditure covers a very long period. The heavy rains on July 4th. and July 8th, did considerable damage and more damage was done by the heavy rains in August. The total cost of making good the damage was $28, 200 The money voted $19,000, leav ing the amount of $9,200 for which this vote is required.
The vote was agreed to.