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occasions taxed your patience to an un- precedented extent by long sittings. I have often felt that, although you did not say so, you must have thought that I was wasting your time in long discussions and by bringing before you matters which there was no statutory obligation to refer to the Executive Council. If SO I can only ask you to forgive me for taking advantage of your goodwill. My reason has been that I have always believed that it is better to discuss things before they are done rather than after, and whenever possible to make sure that all aspects of a question are con- sidered before a decision is taken. I am not so vain as to believe that I have made no mistakes, but I do feel justified in claiming that I have avoided many by this policy and that those long meetings have served the public weal.
CHINESE COLLEAGUES
May I, in conclusion, address a few words specially to my Chinese colleagues? I have valued very highly the confidence and friendship which has been accorded to me by Mr. Chow Shou-son and Mr. Kotewall and their predecessors. They have always been ready to come to me when asked to give me their advice on matters affecting the Chinese community, and they have done great service both to that community and to me by bringing personally to my notice anything in which the Chinese were specially interested and on which it was important that I should know their views.
You Mr. Chow Shou-son and you, Mr. Kotewall have rendered invaluable service to the Colony during the troublous times of the last few months. I know, better than most, the difficulties with which you have had to contend and the tremendous amount of work which you have done, and feel that I should be grievously lacking in gratitude if I did not, on the occasion of this my last appearance in Council, take the opportunity of publicly testify- ing to your services and expressing the thanks of the Colony to you.
GOOD-BYE
Now, gentlemen, I have nothing more to say than to bid you good-bye and to wish you the best of all wishes for your future and for that of this honourable Council. I need not, I am sure, solicit on behalf of my
successor & continuance of the kindness with which you have treated me and of the assistance which has been so readily given to me during my tenure of office. Good-bye. (Applause.)
more
HON. MR. P. H. HOLYOAK-Sir,-On behalf of the Unofficial Members of Council I desire to express our great regret that this is the last meeting at which you will be presiding over our deliberations which have been characterised throughout by the utmost harmony even during critical de- bates. There will shortly be a suitable occasion for us to refer to your great services to this Colony and at the moment I am confining my remarks purely to our relationship upon the Council. You have now served for a little over six years. in this Colony and we have learned to appreciate the fair and open mind which you have invariably brought to the con- sideration of the various problems with which this Colony has been faced during your time with us, as well as the tact and courtesy with which you have handled the debates upon them.
In your first address on landing here, you stated that you invited criticism and advice from every quarter and the record of your term of office here proves that you have not only sought such advice but that you have been at all times open to arguments and willing to change your mind as new factors. were brought to your notice. We venture to think that this factor alone has played no small part in the remarkable success of your Administration here.
During the first part of your time you were fortunate in dealing with times when the prosperity and revenue of this Colony were steadily increasing and everybody appreciates the fact that instead of taking a well earned, much needed and overdue home leave you remained on here when adverse conditions came upon us and that we have had your guidance and counsel during the somewhat trying conditions of the past few months. It is common know- ledge that we would have been well con- tent if your term of office amongst us had been extended and on no less than three occasions strongly urged this, but the Secretary of State has disposed matters otherwise and it therefore now only re- mains for us to wish you every success and happiness in your new sphere of action in Jamaica and in any other sphere of service with which you may be entrusted by His Majesty the King. Needless to say we shall all follow your future career with the keenest personal interest.
HON. MR. CHOW SHOU-SON-Sir,-I most heartily and sincerely endorse every word that has fallen from the honourable senior unofficial member. If is with the greatest regret that my Chinese colleague
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new appointments. Both these items were unforeseen and the deficit is expected- to be, $2,500. Of this $1,100 can be met by transfer to the vote Miscellaneous Services, Stationery leaving a sum of $1,400 to be provided. Agreed.
Cost of a Safe
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of 8201 on account of Public Works Department, Special Expenditure, Cost of one safe for General Works Office.
were
THE CHAIRMAN Three safes obtained from England to be kept in store until required. One of these was sent direct to the General Works Office and other two are in store. It is necessary, therefore, to pay for one safe, and the cost is $201. That is one third of the bill of the Crown Agents.
Agreed.
and I am now bidding Your Excellency farewell in this Council. You have always been kind and considerate to hoth of us, and have been a real friend to the Chinese. One of your traits of character that has most profoundly impressed my colleague and me, if we may say so, is Your Excel- lency's readiness to seek and bear advice, and when you are convinced of the rea sonableness and honesty of such advice, to change your own view, if necessary, Apart from the numerous acts beneficial to the community that have character ised your administration, the great stroke of statesmanship which you have made in regard to the £3,000,000 loan has proved you to be one of the greatest benefac tors of the Chinese, and will for ever en dear you to them. The various services which you have rendered to the community in general and the Chinese in particular, will be referred to at the public recep- tion to be held at the City Hall in your honour, and all that I will now to do is to wish Your Excellency success and pros- perity in the new sphere of usefulness in The Governor recommended the Council which His Most Gracious Majesty the King to vote a sum of $16,650 in aid of the follow- has been pleased to place you, Your gening votes:- erous remarks in reference to my Chinese colleague and myself have deeply touched us. If we have been able to render some useful service to the Colony since our appointment on the Council, particularly during the last four and a half anxious months, it was because we have at all times received such kind encouragement and generous support from Your Excellency. In bidding you, sir, farewell, may
ask you
Police
Police, Other Charges:-
Clothing and accoutrements... $12,000.00 Incidental expenses
Interpretation fees Transport
1,500.00
150.00
3,000.00
Total.... ...$16,650.00
already been approved by the Finance THE CHAIRMAN-This expenditure has
to convey to Lady Stubbs the high esteem, regard and good wishes of the Chinese Com-Committee. munity.
Council then adjourned sine die.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
A meeting of the Finance Committee followed, the CoLONIAL SECRETARY presiding.
Incidental Expenses
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $1,400 in aid of the vote Public Works Department, Other Charges, Incidental Expenses, General.
THE CHAIRMAN—The amount provided in the estimates is $6,000, but owing to the stationery not having arrived from the Crown Agents early in the year, it was necessary to make purchases locally. Also there were some heavy bills from the Crown Agents for advertising in connection with
Drainage Works
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $40,000 in aid of the vote Pubic Works, Extraordinary, Kowloon, Drainage, 83, Miscellaneous Drainage Works, (b), Main Sewer from Fuk Tsun Heung to Kowloon Tong, East of Railway.
THE CHAIRMAN-This expenditure has already been approved.
New Territories
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $23,630 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, New Ter- ritories, Miscellaneous, 124, Compensation and Resumptions.
THE CHAIRMAN-This expenditure has already been approved.
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