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INTERNATIONAL RACE COURSE SCHEME.
It is to be hoped that the Government will give a sympathetic consideration to the scheme for an International Race Course and Recreation Ground at Little Hongkong. A track 11⁄2 miles round could be laid out here with ample room for stands and stabling; the inside of the track could utilized for football, cricket and baseball grounds. The recrea- tion grounds of the Colony are at present taxed to their utmost and some fresh out- let is urgently needed.
THE LAND SALES QUESTION.
With regard to Land Sales, the Govern- ment was asked to dispose of land by private treaty in non-urban districts and we were told that the Government could not see their way to do so; they wanted to obtain the full value of the site-sa I venture to make a further suggestion which is that the original applicant for the land should have the option of pur- chasing the site lot at the price at which it is eventually knocked down. I believe that this system obtains in Macao.
HOUSING PROBLEM.
With reference to the Housing Problem, I would ask the Government to give more assistance to the prospective householder. At the close of your speech, Sir, when introducing this Budget and touching on the Housing Problem you remarked: "wide roads, good drainage, an adequate water supply, and cheap and efficient means of transport are some of the ends in view." The road programme in this year's Budget is a fine one, and I admit that roads are the first consideration, but I am afraid the Government does not always behave sympathetically or Co- operatively with regard to the other items viz. drainage, water-supply and trans- port. For instance, the Government will sell a site and make a stipulation about the water supply that either damns the whole scheme or else it causes intense irritation to the building owner. I quite understand that the Government cannot be expected to carry a water or drainage service to every isolated spot on which some individual may choose to build, but I can quote a case in a district which the Government is fully aware is going to be built over to a large extent, and where they have undertaken to lay on a supply when they consider a sufficient number of houses are erected-yet they make the owner spend over a thousand dollars in taking his own pipe there to provide water. Why not do so at once? Whilst speaking on the subject of water supply, I suggest to the Government the laying of a pipe across the harbour at the earliest possible moment to bring water from the mainland. Only this year, in spite of the fact that we have had 16 inches rainfall above the average, the P.W.D., at one time seriously contemplated putting certain districts on the rider mains. The supply of water from the mainland is, I believe, inexhaustible, so the sooner we bring it across the harbour the better.
Another grievance against the Govern- ment on behalf of the prospective house owner is the upset price of land in outly- ing districts that is to say for pioneers. The first lot sold in Taipo was sold at $100 per acre, and that is a reasonable rate. No sooner was that lot disposed of than the price was immediately raised to 3 cents per sq. ft., with the result that no further land has been sold there since. It would appear, Sir, that the Government is afraid lest anybody should make any money out of these transactions. Pioneers in a district must have pre- ferential treatment to compensate them for the risk that they run in investing their money in a locality which may turn out to be unsuitable.