+
2
There was some disagreement between the Hon. Sir William Shenton and the Hon. Mr. R. H. Kotewall regarding the question of the use of surplus balances for the purpose of balancing the Budget, the former expressing the opinion that the Government was already encroaching too deeply upon these reserves, while the Hon. Mr. Kotewall held the view that more use should be made of them.
The general tenor of the speeches was one of satisfaction as to the policy of the Government.
ex-
At the conclusion of the business, appreciation was pressed by His Excellency, by the Hon. Sir Henry Pollock on behalf of the Unofficial Members, and by the Hon. Mr. S. W. Ts'o on behalf of the Chinese community, of the services render- ed by the Hon. Mr. R. H. Kotewall during his twelve years as a member of the Council, and regret was expressed at his resignation.
Regret was also expressed at the impending departure of Lieut.-General O. C. Borrett, who leaves for England on Saturday.
C
PROMISE OF ECONOMY
His Excellency the Officer Ad- the Government should refrain from ministering the Government (Hon. starting expenditure on new Public Mr. N. L. Smith), presided, and Works of magnitude. At the same there were also present:
time we regret that many useful Public Works, over 100 in number, in the list marked "considered but not included in the draft estimates" (with which the Government kindly supplied us) have had to be postponed owing to present financial stress.
His Excellency the General Officer Commanding the Troops (Lieut. General 0. C. Borrett, C.B., CM.G, ¿C.B.E., D.S•O.) ;
The Colonial Secretary (Hon. Mr. R. A. D. Forrest, Acting);
The Attorney General (Hon. Mr. C. G. Alabaster, K.C., O.B.E-);
The Secretary for Chinese Affairs (Hon. Mr. E. H. Williams, Acting); The Colonial Treasurer (Hon. Mr. , E. Taylor);
the
It is satisfactory to note that, for the time being, no new taxation is being imposed, and we are glad to see that the Government is reducing the charges for excess water. It is also satisfactory that, notwithstanding the need for drastic economy, Queen Mary Hospital is being vigor ously proceeded with, whilst the 75- foot road from Causeway Bay to Hon. Dr. W. B. A. Moore (Direc- Ming Yuen (now known as King's tor of Medical and Sanitary Ser-Road), the Central British School and vices, Acting);
Hon. Commander G. F. Hole, R.N., (Retired), (Harbour Master);
Hon. Mr. R. M. Henderson (Direc- tor of Public Works);
the new Kowloon Magistracy will be Hon. Mr. M. J. Breen (Postmaster completed next year. 'General);
Hon. Sir Henry Pollock, KT., K.C.; Hon. Sir William Shenton, KT-;
Too Many Regulations Regarding retrenchment of staffs, we are glad to learn that the Govern- Hon. Mr. R. H. Kotewall, C.M.G,ment is carefully considering whether
LL.D.;
Hon. Mr. J. B. Braga, 0.B.E.; Hon. Mr. S. W. T'so, 0.B.E., LL.D.; Hon. Mr. J. J. Paterson; Hon. Mr. T. N. Chau;
it is absolutely necessary to fill up posts as vacancies occur. Our staff of Civil Servants is a very large one, even after making the fullest allow Mr. A. W. G. H. Grantham (De- ment has also to perform the duties ance for the fact that the Govern- puty Clerk of Councils).
City Development Under Public Works Department, i we agree that in these times of de- pression, it is advisable to retain as many employees as possible on a tem- porary basis. In regard to Govern- ment House and City Development, we consider that the Government is wise to call a halt for the time being, to a scheme of this expensive nature which originated in more prosperous times.
With reference to the Shing Mun Dam, we note with pleasure the highly. satisfactory progress which has been made, enabling some water to be im- pounded from the first of last month. We congratulate Mr. Gifford Hull and his staff, upon being so well forward with this important scheme.
Shing Mun reminds us of the excellent anti-malarial work which has been done by Dr. R. B. Jackson and his Staff not only in that neigh- bourhood but also in the Peak District which is now more free from mos- quitoes than it has been for very many years past. Also much good anti- malarial work has been and is being done in Kowloon Tong, Stanley, Shek O and elsewhere.
A full report by Dr. Jackson on anti-malarial measures during 1934 appears on pages 116 to 158 of the Report of the Acting Director of Medical and Sanitary Services for 1934, and induces us to urge that, if possible, more
should be money devoted to anti-malarial work than is at present included in the Estimates for 1936.
We trust that the forthcoming cemetery extension at Hammer Hill will, in the course of the next ten years, enable the Central Cemetery at Kowloon to be released for build- ing and other development purposes
a very necessary step forward in! the town-planning of Kowloon.
Strong Protest
The Unofficial Members now pro- ceed to deal with one part of the Colonial Secretary's Budget speech, to which they take the strongest. ex- ception. The passage in question reads as follows: "In spite of all
this, however, the Government would be failing in its duty if it did not con- template in advance the steps that
in
will have to be taken in 1936 if there. should either be a sharp drop in the dollar rate or a serious decline have said, no additional taxation has revenue ΟΙ possibly both. As I
stances; but it is as well that a warn- been imposed in the existing circum-
The Colonial Secretary moved the of a Municipality. Indeed it is con- ing should now be given that this may
second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to apply the sum not exceeding Twenty-three million eight hundred and forty thousand and six-
teen dollars to the Public Service of the year 1936”.
It is also de- i
sidered by some that we have too
be necessary if the state of the public many Regulations in this Colony and finances in 1936 should show some too large a staff of subordinate officers serious deterioration. fussing about and worrying people sirable that a warning should be given regarding the meticulous observance that a temporary levy on all Govern- of the Regulations. Also the preva- ment Salaries, both dollars and ster- lent notion that Police Officers and, ling, may be necessary before the end Sanitary Inspectors acquire merit by of 1936 in the circumstances referred prosecuting people is apt to render to. and that the Secretary of State: the Government unpopular and to has already given his sanction to make the man in the street consider action on these lines. It is unneces-i; that we could do with fewer of such sary at the moment to go into details? Officers.
of proposals which will only be re-i quired in the event of a contingency! which we hope will not arise".
The Colonial Treasurer seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. Addressing the Council, the Hon. Sir Henry Pollock said:-Your Ex- cellency, As the Senior Unofficial Member I have been asked by my colleagues to express our joint views
We approve of the additional Police upon the Budget for 1936. At the outset we congratulate the Colonial defences which are being erected on
Whilst the Unofficial Members Secretary and Mr. Grantham (whose the frontier and of the extra police
The grow cordially echo the hope expressed by impending departure from the Colony engaged for that purpose. we very much regret) upon the able ing population of the New Territories, the Colonial Secretary that such a justifies better police protection contingency will not arise, and that and clear statement which has been against raids by bandits. We agree our Budget for 1986 will not become. laid before us regarding the Budget. to the new posts in the Treasury and unbalanced, we strongly object to any We also thank the Colonial Treasurer to the proposed Aviation Meteorolo- additional taxation being imposed to for his lucid and informative Memor- jgical Officers for the Government meet any such deficit in our finances, andum on our financial position, and Observatory, and, on the ground of if it should unfortunately occur. the Director of Public Works for his economy, we agree to the proposed Our contention is that any such de- notes on Public Works Extraordinary engagement locally of ten Asiatic ficit ought to be made good exclusive- for 1936 and also for the information Sanitary Inspectors, to replace ster-ly by cuts in the salaries of Civil which he and his Staff kindly gaveling-paid Officers. We approve of the Servants.
two new postal kiosks and of the im-
us in Public Works Committee.
The Estimates contain little con- proved postal deliveries in outside tentious matter, and it is fully realis- parts of the Colony, and also of the ed that, in view of the estimated short-wave telephone transmitter revenue for 1936 being so much lower than that for 1935, it is essential that
which was recommended by the Economic Commission.
Salary Facts
In support of this contention of
the' ours, we beg leave to remind Government of certain facts, which preceded the considerable increase in salaries which came into force on the
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