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of any form of harbour trust they do not recommend any
change as regards the wharf and other harbour interests.
The Governor states that these suggested
revised arrangements with public utility companies are
in line with the conversation already in progress with
the Telephone Company on their instance, and the
Financial Secretary and the Crown Solicitor have been
directed to begin conversations with the Gas and
Electricity Companies.
(a) Although the Committee are not in favour
of any general extension of import duties they think
1iquor
the duties on liquor and motor spirit could be increased.
The extra revenue gained thereby might be as much as
$1,000,000 per annum.
The Governor states that this suggestion will
be borne in mind, although no immediate action is
necessary to supplement revenue.
III.
Suggestions for major Increases.
(a) Rates. The present assesment rate is
17 per cent, which is lower than in Shanghai and
Singapore, and the annual yield is $6,000,000 or one-
sixth of the total revenue. Two per cent, however, is
earmarked as water revenue, hence the amount strictly
available for general purposes is approximately
$5,300,000.
The Committed first considered whether it
might not be possible to institute a surcharge on rates
on domestic premises of more than a certain annual
value, but rejected the idea owing to the easy possibility
of evasion by means of subdivision of houses, and on the
ground that the small additional revenue which could be
obtained