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389
and to launch out again when conditions improve. Expansion
can of course be curtailed or postponed but the normal work
of administration must go on. It may even increase during a
slump as the records of Police, Prisons and Magistracies show.
Actual reduction of Expenditure which is to have immediate
effect must generally be at the expense of Public Works
recurrent or extraordinary. Sven this is not always possible.
The Policy which was perforce adopted in 1936 of reducing
maintenance votes has left its legacy in deterioration of
roads and buildings and it would be false economy to try to
starve these services any longer. It is necessary in fact
in order to escape very heavy expenditure in the near future
to do something to make up lost ground. The vote for Public
Works Recurrent has accordingly been increased from $1,486,500
in 1937 to $1,600,200 in 1938 and no attempt has been made to
reduce unduly those items unr Public Works Extra ordinary
which are of a recurrent nature. The sum provided for Public
Works Extraordinary has on the other hand been considerably
reduced. The only major commitment carried forward from 1937
is the Government Store, the construction of which has been
shown clearly to be a measure of economy. There are however
certain other items which have been postponed from year to
year until their urgency can no longer be disputed.
for a beginning in the case of two of the most pressing will
be found included. These are a new Mental Hospital and a new
Ward Block for the Kowloon Hospital. However uncertain the
future may be I feel that Honourable members will agree that
the time has at last come when these works can no longer be
safely postponed.
Provision
Even more urgent if that were possible is a fur ther
extension of waterworks. The position has been very fully