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MESSAGE TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
W. PEEL,
Governor.
No. 11.
His Excellency the Governor has the honour to present for the consideration of the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council the items (Nos. 80 to 91 of 1931) of supplementary expenditure set out below.
By His Excellency's Command,
Dated the 12th day of October, 1931.
W. T. SOUTHORN,
Colonial Secretary.
Brought forward..
81.-31, Public Works Extraordinary :-32, Various Resumptions etc. To meet cost of road widening works..
Provision made in Estimates (page 94 sub-head 32)...$
10,000
This sum is required in connection with the widening of Bonham Road at a narrow and sharp corner between Centre and Western Streets.
Finance Committee approved the expenditure of $11,000 for this work in 1924, but the work was never carried out. The owner of I.L. 609A, which abuts on the south side of the section of road to be widened, is now anxious to re-develop his lot. This he cannot do until the road widening, which includes the re-erection of a retaining wall, has been com- pleted. Government therefore feels itself committed to carrying out the approved scheme.
The main reason for the increase in the estimated cost of the work is that whereas in 1924 a dump for the surplus earth was available nearby, it will now have to be transported to North Point.
(C.S.O. 390/15).
82.-30, Public Works Recurrent -11, Item 2. Electric Lighting Kowloon
4,000.00
16,500,00
1,000.00
Provision made in Estimates (page 91 sub-head 11
item 2)
$
30,000
Items the cost of which can be met wholly or in part by Savings from other sub-heads of the head are marked with an asterisk (*). The source and extent of the Savings will be found in the explanation of the individual items.
MEMORANDA EXPLAINING THE ITEMS.
Estimates, 1931.
80.-29, Public Works Department:-Other Charges. Drawing Materials and Mounting Plans
Provision made in Estimates (page 77 sub-head 3)......$ 7,000
The vote has become exhausted on account of the continued heavy demand for leases, the demands for plans etc. from other Departments, and the increased cost of materials in local currency.
Approximately 20% of the amount expended is recoverable from the sale of plans etc.
The expenditure for the year 1930 was $11,686.
The additional sum now requested is urgently required to enable this service to be continued without delay.
(C.S.O. 21 in 173/31).
$
4,000.00
Carried forward........ .$ 4,000.00
To meet street lighting charges due to development. The extension of certain roads upon which new buildings have been completed has necessitated additional street lighting.
C.S.O. 5948/10.
* 83.-5, Colonial Secretary's Office and Legislature:-3, Hansarl Reports
Provision made in Estimates (page 16 sub-head 3)...$ 1,800.00
The 1930 Hausard which is published and paid for in 1931 contained 282 pages as against an average of 206 for the previous three years.
The sum of $57 now asked for is to meet the additional cost of print- ing the larger volume.
The above is to be met from savings under Office Equipment (1931 Estimates page 16 sub-bead 5).
(C.S.O. 3 in 173/31).
* 84.-25, Medical Department:-Installation of standard power plugs for X-Ray work
Considerable difficulty has been experienced by the Radiologist in using the new portable X-ray and electrical apparatus without standard power plugs. It is essential that the installation should be carried out as soon as possible. As no provision was made in the current estimates for this expenditure a supplementary vote for one thousand one hundred dollars is now required.
57.00
1,100,00
Carried forward................
$ 22,657.00
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