287
25.
used for work on which it is unnecessary to use a heavy roller,
which has been the practice hitherto. Sub-head 17 Upkeep of
Quarry Plants shows an increase of $5,000; but this is nominal,
for the vote now includes $5,000 which was previously included
in "Special Expenditure". With the establishment next year of
an Aviation Meteorological Service there will be a new wireless
transmitter to operate at Kai Tak, consequently the vote "Repairs,
Stores and Current" under Radio Telegraph Branch must be increased by $3,000. The largest item under Special Expenditure is the
short wave telephone transmitter, $72,000, which arises out of
the recommendation of the Economic Commission, that Hong Kong
should improve its short wave broadcasting transmissions, mainly
with the idea of making the Colony better known. But in any case
the inauguration next year of the Aviation Meteorological Service
will deprive the Broadcasting Committee of one of its trans-
mitters, for it has, as I explained, been using one that was
originally purchased for aviation purposes.
The two lorries to be replaced, sub-head 23, are more
than ten years old, and have reached the stage where the repair
bill is so heavy that it is uneconomical to continue them in
service.
Head 33, Public Works Recurrent.
There is a reduction on the Head of $143,100, and
there was a reduction in the 1935 Estimates, as compared with
the 1934 Estimates, of $78,750; in other words the provision
for 1936 is $221,850 less than it was for 1934. This means
of course that there must be a falling off in the high standard
at which Goverment buildings, roads, bridges, piers, etc., have