1920-11-19 — Page 10

10

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(Continued from Page 93

I notion on page 5 of the Drakt Estimates that the scabs of fees for the use of buan is to be revised and I would respectfully point at that when these boys were appro priated by the Government from the Ship plag Companies in any cases at one-third of their then vain they were handed over en the ceadition that the tariff should not be med as a Government revenue.making concern, but that the fey should be re gulated to give a fair retur on the outlay. We therefore, view with grave con car the Government's preposal to increase the tanff from $73,000 to $95,001% as the femer figure is already well known to give hanibone profit on the oattay. We shall be glat to know it the representative Ship. ping Companies concerned have, through the Chamber of Commerce, been consulted is this matter. We further wish to point increase in the charges of On that

any the port such as this, emigrant fres, etc. vely ris similar charges at rival parms, hear intimately upon the trade and continuid prosperity of the Cohay.

We trust that the proposal for the mili tare to give up the ground around Murray Barrack for building purposes will maturi without delay as that there much-neede development schemes may be put in hand

I expedited as much as possible. I. per. sally, am not in favour of spending a large sum of money in continuing the Peak Tramway to the Queen's Road'lere av such

* siteration will only serve to render more expensive still vae of the already most. pessive tram services. I suppose, in the The lower from station has done very well where it is for some 30 years and this rafaable ground can be put to better public e and the money spent is better Pablic advantage than in otiating the ak tramhne to the lower level. The mad already wili, m doubt. be widened as it is the mor extensively used read by Inter reticks in the Class.

Broad, pathways will no doubt be made for chair traffic and

Telrias

1

The rest or more recreation grounds for a growing young community as this play sly consists of. is being felt more mere fear and I submit, sir, that the sel Ion of the increasingly important matter that a large space or spares be levelled and tried at Kowloon in the more easily

utah dimricts on this side of the hills a batach spaces be served by cheap fun and frank wrvices. I think I am voicing the sentiments of the general public (British, Chinese, and all denominations like) whe: I say that while the Govern ment may be blamed for to live attention

this direction, the importance of the pazier en far as it affects the public welfare i'm not be crer-estimated.

I rate the 3 Pollock's mic The

ST Maurice FitzMaurice

to

me and bok forward to his report and femmeation. for the improvement

cur Harbourlour chief-asset for the con nued prosperity of our port. At the same i me e ngratulate «erekes on having bentfs of his vast experienes, well- cv kolege and sound judgment in this most important matter.

The indin Diaphone and Wire. Is Position Finders with much appre dated by the Shipping city ice she pr.. It is righ: the colony should lead the Bay in this and other developments and it 1. hoped the Ching Authority will in dau- are institute, these improvements along China Coast, will keen an ice if the ded shipping thoroughfares of the wal and at certain far vo frequest seasons of the year age of the most prevalent to de se fogs and adver-currents.

I again reiterate what my colleagues have pter at before in this Council with recard to the linking up of the Canton raway with the Kowlon line. It seems strange-indred that the vas potentialities of railway develgment in south and central Chins do not apparently seem to be realised il by the Chinese Authorities The

political troubles around. Cantos seem to ave postponed indefinitely any solution of ths allimportant business for the welfare the condrry. We trust that the Kwang- og and Kwangs factions will aujus, their édérences

• speedlit

and settle down to carry great respinsibilities. wup their destinies and

I should like to see a Gioierament Pr paganda Department eared. It has been fornarked upon to me on more than

one

ssion by new indevutial arrivals from Home that the averag, man in the British udes has no conception of what this outpost of our Empire consists of at the prevent. time, couverted as ir bau benu in the protse of some sixty years by British everprise from a fever-stricken apå svampy, barren land to a busy thriving commercial com. munity. Thenard, og millions of money lage bees spent and millions more are being tent on the development of the Colpay and it should be the privilege and duty of all to make these things brown at Home and pand the Empire where they mat no: now appreciated and when they can help on tie good work in any way by so doing.

1 cordially agree with that the hon. mem - ber for the Clamber of Commerce bas said shout our Director of Public Works, the Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, C.M.G., who has every right to feel proud of having success- faily carried out during a long and honour. able career a fair proportion of this great work In tendering him the Colony's thanks we wish him a long and happy re. tirement in the Old Country.

We would also respectfully cffer our eza- gratulations to your Excellency on your administration daring the past year, I Andorse the remarks of the Hon. Mr. Holyoak regarding the Colonial Secretary, the Hon. Mr. G. M. Fletcher, C.B.F., and with him as pleasant a holiday in Eng.. land as it is well-earned and desirved. În there remarks we include the Hon Mr.

·Hollifax, the General Secretary, for Chinese AHair

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY'S

REPLY..

The COLONIAL SECRETARY-Sir, I must open my remarks with an apology in respect 10, the first point raised by the hon. men ber representing the Justices," who szem attention to the matter of the index. We

were very pressed at the moment in cogines. tion with the settlement of the subordinate officers', salaries and, were unable to find time to compile the index. With regard to Page 17 I am not quite sure that I under." stand he reference made by the har ber to the sbserice of the names of the trans

of Departments. They are included in the tion page 16 and it will be seen that. the Secretary for Chinese Affairs is one.

of four officers at the top:

The Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-My Fout, is that they should appear under the depart rept Beadings. 3

The ColoniaL SECZETARY The hon. mem bei referred to the question of the rice aransactions and suggested that the report. Fought to have been laid on the table kng

regarding the final winding up,” In the instance the auditing and checking,

haye abo been waiting for discussions in connction with the matter on the Supple mentary Appropriation Bill which is to be considered this afterzson in the Finance Committee. I think his strictures as 10 expensive experienes and lack of expert advice and assistance are somewhat unde served.". With regard to the expense, we

and bought, about 53 lakhs of rice on that the total loss was approximately 27 lakhs, and 1 venture to say that the Egures of individual merchants in this Colony will make a better showing in respect of the same transaction for the same period, 17 must be remembered we were forced by eirenmstances to buy on a rising market in order to steads the price and we were quite unable to sell until there came a failing marker and the prospect of chaining future supplies. With regard to his paint in con- nection with the inadequacy of the Public Works staff. His Excellency referred lo that the last meeting, and pointed out that we wm employing some local Gems, and if this experiment proves gatisfactory and if it is necessary, the number"will be increased With regard to the same it The intention of the Government so gire fall notice to all parties interested of any proposed extension of this experiment. The hon member mentioned next the strengthen- ing of the reads in connection with the pro posed unter bus services at Kowloos. This Se arranged for under Public Works Extra. ordinary Pag 85

83 of the Estimates, where

a sum of $100,000 is set age, for this perpose. There is sales an additional com the for the New Territory Roade a for improved service as far as Laichikok, which will be the terminus of one branch of the He also expressed the hope that the Kewoon Canton Railmas will be linked up with the Hankow railway. Negotiations are in an advanced stage and there is hope that as soon as things settle down in Cantha

He the a speedy solution will be found. referred to the question of European Police and said the force was set ficient for the the protection of the FROD

SIV criminal classes of the

I may say

the

that the Police cost monry. pear Police cost

very latge sim

It will be seen that the ferrase this year i from something like sine Lakhs to thirteen Jakha, an increase of 200.000. The hon. member has produced to facts or figares to show we are not well

protezed.

think it is a great tribute to the efficierer of the Police that we have had such a clear record as regards crime recently, in view of the distarbed state of affairs in the eighbouring Province. I may say, too, that it is the opinion of Government that the Shipping Companies and Merchants here are rather too proud to substitute Government proction in these matters for. what I may call, self-reliance. We have had recent morrespondence on the subject in re- gard to breaching of parzo and thefts along the water frost. I has been pointed out that the European Police along the front could, no doubt, do much to remedy this state of affairs by better supervision and I thick no tube, that they could make the of the transgrevor considerably harder. a" bat this touches only the fringe of the sub. jeet. The Government, in a letter yester day, point out to the Chamber of Com merce that in their opinion the remede lies. in the hands of the persons cacerced. There is considerable laxity in the matter of the supervision of the targo d * carried about the harbour. For example, Foods lie all right in fucks and lighters without any aßervision and then the owner express surpree when on goods reaching America it is discovered that bricks bave been substituted for tin The coal is not

دینیو

weigher from the lighter to the godown and a shortage occurs. Some ouers pay their launch coxswains a fixed sum for running expenses which is a direct inducement" for The theft of cal. There was a recent case where a ship employed a a aumber of coelies and quite by zocident a large gang of

argo breachers were discovered at work broach- ing cargo in the middle of the day. I think that if shippers and employers of labour co-operated more in providing piper saper. vision, the task of the Police would be cou- siderably lightened, and the services render- ed be more effective. I think I am right in saring that in Singapore the European officer were something like 40: Eere it is, 180: and I think in Ceylon the European force for the whole island is nothing like as large. It is only about twenty-tho“.

in regard to the prison at Lausick, » large sum for whad was recently posed by the Council. I think the staff i quite ample une The to us with the present situation. kra, mewuer referiu to the possible iatro duction of the chain gang. This is hardly the intention of the Government. The pro. posal is to use some prisoners to ever over the refuse dumps a Laichikot and se quate steps will be taken to see that the prisoners are properly guarded. He also arew attention to the question of a separate heading for the Police and Frison depart ments in the estimates. It is a mistake and the title of Superintendent of Gaels is quite right. The printers have bem in- structed to change the heading and make it a separate department. I may also any that it is the intention with regard to the new gaol at gauskivan that it should be the sole gaol, except for a few rells in the neigh bourhood of the Police Cuers. The acreage is something over fiiteen ceres for the gnol and Pelice school. as compared with the acreage of 1.7 acres on the present site. It is proposed to employ prisoners in quarry- ing stone lying on the northern boundary

'sa at present.

I will now refer to the question of educa tion; to the inadequacy of the Europeaz staff and of schools for teaching English as. mentioned by the senior Chinese member and the member representing the Chamber of Commerce. I think in this case the effect of the war has remained, Mea were taken out of training for five years and there is a great shortage at home where they can command almost any price they like. Our system of advertising at home is hardly good enough I think They simply pat in the sterling salary and make no reference to it being at a shilling dollar or below, or the fact of cheap house rent and free passage, and Mr. Tacner, the Head- master of Queen's College, who has gone home on leave, has been asked to arrange on the spot that candidates may dearly understand what the position is.

The Hop. Mr. HotYour said they could not advertise free quarters until the Govern men; provided them.

The COLORAL SECRETARY, replied that the work was in progress and that a large stam of money had been provided for this work, On the question of vernacular education I think I may say that the Government is in sympathy with the views expressed. Owing to the efforts of Mr. Lau Che-pak and the Confucian Society, they have bene. fitted largely by públic subscriptions. The Government vote is not a very large one a vote of 810.000 this year for this work especially This question is very largely tied up by a, lack of vernacular teachers. We are trying to remedy that by training. men at the University. With regard to technical &ducation, the Government has largely increased the grant, recognising that the higher classes are more expensive #zd requiredámos, feffitirat teachingjal arret

THE CHINA MAIL.

sure of the exact figure, bus I think the grant for the top class has been raised from 19 za #30,- that at the intermediate clas from $30 to 830, and of the lower clam from $15 to $90 The hon. member for the Chamber of Commerce referred to the grast: to Holy Trinity College, Canton," Not only is there a vote of $50,000 for this year, bas * sum of $50,000 has recently been paid In order to encourage the College Society, is has been made, as far as possible, a cop=" tion of the grant that the College must raise an equal sum. They have already get their first 850.000 and they wil bo in position shartly to get the remaining anm. I am glad the hon. member recognises the fact that we cannot carry the whole burden ourselves. The next point mised is in re- gard to the allocation of building grants. The promised allocation to St. Joseph's is $40,000; to Holy Trinity. Canton, $30,000; and to St. Mary's, Korbon, $90,000, (not For Fairlie and S. definitely promised). Stephen's Gith School, to be located in West End Park, we have a total obligation of $12.000 and speaking from memory I think that $90,000 of that figure is in the estimate, and there is a balance. With regard to the Queen's Staine Wharf, is the intention

of the Governmeas build a large wharf with ample accommodation for launches. It bas been proposed that there should be a long pier. In addition to the fact-bari: will con $150,000, it is possible that it will - block up the ares, now used by "small"A launches and yachts in the vicinity. It is possible that this wharf could be made to serve for the pier of the future which will

with the

the dignity of the sur

be in keep 1) hase 19 see bir Maurin

at

to Public Works Extraordinary

Laichi- kek it was fully understood that whee arrangements were made for the leasing of the land in this vicinity an additional sam of

Ere cents a fopt was put on for the sole purpose of providing for the reclaiming the site. The Government has to provide a cupailerable expenditage because is has to train a stream which alone costs about 2180.000,

Iz

The hon member refatred is various points in rotection with the housing ques- the. The Government has become very much more strics in the master of penalties rently. In the Erst place, alter the first lapse, treble or quadruple rates are pit on, and then a more substantial fine in addision and finally there is re-entry. We have re-entered in one or two cases recently. The

question of the alleation of $300,000 with security bag been answered in the question which the hon. member pat at a earlier sage of this meeting. In the same connection it is hoped that the Government will assist the community as He Man Tin to build a garden

rden city in Kowloon regard to the same as speedily as possiblect the Government is marking cut land in the Hip Mun. Tia district and hoped very with sherly to come to some arrangements the parties interested in the building of certain number of houses there. It is als marking out land at Kowloon Tong and arrangements there are being advanced as predily as posible. I think the grant of cheap land and easy communication will. very largely solve the housing difficulty. It 2s found in the recent allotment of money that the large majority of the applicants were men of straw who had no possible security to give. Their only suggestion was that the Government bank provide the houses at a very cheap price.

Only one make a definite proposition and he has been given very cheap land at Faoling and balf the cost of his house.

The hon. member has expressed "surprise that no es have been taken to proceed with the proposed tramway to Wanchai Gap I am the more surprised because the ancial members, who are members of the Public Works Committee of this Council, aivised that it should be left out. I would mention that a very rough survey has been prepared and a very rough estimate of the two lakhs, without taking into account motive power of any description. eren simpposing we took it from the Hong- kong Electric Company. One reason why it is not going on is that we are providing a new road at Wanchai, Gap add anstber reason concerts the proposed enlargement of the Peak Tramway. One of the reasons for the Wanchai Gap Tramway was the

τα

23

Ya of the present tramway to the We are acgotiating with the Peak Tramway Company to bring the tram dowt fo Queen's Read and to enlarge the cars to

double the carry

the number of people they now Bop the arrangements made will result in a greater increase in the carrying capacity of the care

The Hos. Mr. POLLOCK-I should like to ask when the unofficial members said they "did not want the tram to Wanchai Gap.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR-During your absence, I think, Mr. Pollock

The COLONIAL SECRETARY-The hou. mem ber also referred to the military land in Nathan Road, Kowloon, and expressed the hope that there would be beaty compera- tion between the military and Government on that matter. 17

235tre bim

on that point. The project generally is that the military should go over to the other side and that they should give up that ares along Nathan Road, known as Whitfield Barracks; that the European troops should be accommodated at Gun Clab HD and King's Park, leaving the golf course intact and that native troops should be to the north and test Kowloon city. It is hoped that re may be able to take over the military hospital and that a new hospital for the military would be built on one of those kill; directly west of the Cement Works. The smoke Luisance will have to be abated. With regard to the U.S.R.C, it is proposed that this should be on the site of the present

Whitfeld.. ground st parade

The Praya East Reclamation is being pashed on.as quickly as possible. The pre- liminary work is very heavy and two engi. neers have been at work. As soon as figures With are ready tenders will be called for. reference to axistance to the Kai Tack Reclamation scheme TA are" making arrangements for a ferry and motor-bus service. We have referred the proposed schedule and rates to the Kowloon Besidents' Association and vą się merdy wailing til they have given us their views.

The hon. member suggested appointing & -Committee to discuss and report on the feasibility of the Naval Wireless Station At-Stonecutters being used for commercial purposes, I think the matter has been fully discussed and it will sezyw no useful purpose to discuss it over again. It has besz pointed out that the station is not powerful enough and the system on which it is run is not fitted for commercial work. in the ordinary sense. With regard to the general question I have here the report of the Imperial Wireless Committee, 1919-20, which considered the whole subject of wire Iostolegraphy throughout the British Empire. It is apparent to averybody we cannot stand alone. We must have stations finked up in order to get our edges. through to England, m

The COLONIAL SECRETARY then read several extracts from the report to show. the dimculties of the question, mentioning that stations are proposal: to the erected in India, Singapore, and Hongfolg,

The Hon Mr. Horror-I have rend the What I wish report very carefully myself.. to emphasise that we must have a statian We must ges on at once. It is no tha waiting till the imperial wireless chain is introduced. This morning'a paper reports messages between Bordeaux and Shanghai and Now York and Manila. It is abeard to ruit We must have it even If we hars ts pay for it ourselves,

The COLOSTAL SECRETARY-In reply to Mr. Lau Cho-pak on the question of the hawkers I am astonished shai Mr. Hebreak has expressed his sympathy with the member's remarks. I am surprised Mr. Horost mentioned some time ago that the increase in hawkers was a nuisance to tonter traffic. The question of hawkers is primarily not only one of traffic control, It is but of good order and cleanliness. admittedly difficult for the Government to state exactly the number required in the puute interest before they trangress into a public nuisance. They admittedly squat with their stalk all about the thorough fares and litter the place with refuse and add very considerably to the labears of the Sanitary Department in

cavenging- They insist on wlling their wares în a pro- hibited area and generally obstruct trific. Anyone who has been through,weste Feria or Yaumati will agree. We have aged incessani warfare to get the streets reasonably clear and I submit it is unfair that we should be asked to se licences extra Indiscriminately and then to pal ca Petice to chase them eff from pillar to post. The Government "gets $25,000 for 7,000 licences against 9,000. It is not proposed to reduce the numbers by taking away Licences; all hawkers who now have licences If more than will be

will have them remes" tha

is

7.000 are needed new applicants is special cases, not all is the carical distric

that li is not because a license is refused to a person that he immediately becomes a criminal bet it

in many cases that a true in

harker takes but a licence and carries on a trade às a criminal practices. You ever for "a row like this have both the mediaeval and modern systems. The native idea of the uses to which

public thatoughfares properly be

In accordance with pur the modern school of thought on the subject and I I think it is reasonable in the interests of traffic control and the management of the ely generally that these Licenses should be The a reasonable figure. kept within bonourable member also mentioned tha: there might be abuse in connection with the ise of a limited number of licences. I do

nes think so. All present holders will be entitled to a renewal of their licences and new applications are carefully "foquired iaro.

With regard to the proposed charge for excess water, the rider mains were los given at the request of the Chinese. It must be borne in mind that they were given abo to enable the Government to check the use of water and their primary object was that when the shortage of water came in the winter to cut off the water from the Chinese recement houses, and keep down the supply to one hour. If they had it for anything STC two hours the Chinese turged on the tap and wasted the water. Now we have a supply tasting throughout the year and the astrage very grea: izdeed. I think the beg, member wünki prefer the tax to having to "take rater from the street fountains. Farious difficulties no doubt exist as to the incidence of the tax. There is so definite statement as to increased fees; it is straply proposed add the revenue from this gource.

in

the

As regards the question of the buoys

barbour,

raised by the Hon. Mr. Parr, the suggestion to increase the fees has not been gene into at any length. The cost of everything even the cost of passages on the ships of the hon, member's own company—have gone up very much indeed and there is m reason why the Government should remaja in the position it was years agt With_re- gard to emigration fees our fees are con siderably below those of other ports and the figures show that we can put on these extra charges. The Council may rest assured that the Government will do nothing to prejudice this important interest of the Colony

1 may, in conclusion, express my deep appreciation of the complimentary words expressed by the two hon. members with regard to myself but which I think are raiber deserved by the service as a whole to whose efficient cooperation the amooth running of the Government machine is "satirely due.--(Applause).

The Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-Ons pajat to which the Hon...Colonial Secretary did not refer was to the question of private practi tioners being allowed to attend their ow patients in the Kowloon. hospital.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY-That is the intention of the Government.

Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-I am not convinced that the unofficial members refaced the Wanchai Gap tramway.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY-It was đĩa- cussed in Committee and it was agreed that the scheme should be omitted.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WÖRKS.

*0-

The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: in regard to public works which have not been dealt with by the Hon. Colonial Secretary I would ask permission first to express my deep appreciation of the re- marks relating to myself which have fallen from the hon. member opposite (Hon. Mr. HOLYDAK). It has always been deavour to maintain the high standard of excellence of the public works generally hich had been established by some at leist

in this Colony. of my predecessors in The hoo. senior

member anofficial me referred to the necessity for the prompt dealing with plans for alterations to build ings and new buildings

Provision is made in the ordinance for very limited period within which

must be dealt Plans with

and if

if he could bring to my notice any case in which that period has been exceeded I will be glad to-investigate it..

the According to the ordinance who

may proceed such plans may

no intimation of disapproval received within the Past Reclamation regard to t

to the Praya

parties

with

t

the bite if no With

stated.

scheme I can only say that some,

result from the visit

of

will recess Fitarice, to investigate

Sir Mauribe

Suman

the question of barbour improvements

establistament of whar generally and the faze

the and

communication on railway ocher side of the water. It was necessary to have a great deal of information pre- pared for his benefit and the staff that would be otherwise engaged on the Praya East Reclamation work has had to be taken off for that purpose,

The senior unofficial member re-

· hon.

Chamber ferred to the motor road from lain Wood road to Magazine Gap In that case also the question was referred to the Public Works Committee, consisting of all the unofficial members, and they were unanimous in recommending the construction of that road: "I am aware of course, that my hon. friend MF: Pollock was absent from the Colony when tha

· FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1937.

occurred, but I think be should have it out with his locum tenens in the first in- stance before.complaining of the insertion of this item.

Hon Mr. POLLOCK: 1 entirely..dis- agree with the hon. member, Why should not I have my own views on the subject, and why should I not express them?

The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: I merely wished to mention that it was not a

a matter which had been inserted by Government without reference to the the

members and that the work onofficial had received their unanimous support.

I think the, Colonial Secretary deal very fully with the question of the rider mtin system. The reason for introducing this system was that a Bill had been pass- ed by this Council:

providing for the with- drawal of the service to the houses gear talle enless meters were introduced, and to give semel to the people from public fountains only. That was the resson why" the rider main system was applied for ånd altimately introduced,

The main object of the meters, of course, is to economise the water supply and prevent the necessity for further

great extensions of the waterworks to maintain the supply. Such extensions, il necessary in the forure, must be attended by far grea ter expense than hitherto, My boo, friend in my tele (Mr. Pasr) referred to the de- sirability of encouraging the introduc tion of new contractors. If any contracter can show me that he has some experience of work and has carried out somessfully Works elsewhere, am always ready to include his name in the list of contractors eligible for rendering For Government volks. The hoz. member also mentioned in a casual way the desirability of utilis- in level spaces to the south of the Kow- icon bills loc recreation purposes. would be glad if he world show me where these leval spaces are unless he refers to the swampy places lying to the left of the Taino road near Taikokisat. There are practically no level speres that I am aware of at Kowloon that can be turced into re- creation purposes without the expenditure -of a considerable sum of money.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR.

I

HE. THE GOVERNOR-Honorable gentle. me-before proceeding to refer to one or two points which have not been referred to either by the Director of Public Works or the Colonial Secretary, I 20

I should like to say how much I as Head of Govern

the ment, appreciate the remarks of the mem ber for the Chamber of Commerce with re- ba: 1 gard to our three colleagues here; Kould also like to say that we shall

Kft much more work from, Mr. Chatham in this Centeil before he retires; otherwise I my- self would have referred to his retirement.

With regard to the Cadet Service, the gezier stoffcial member asked För informa- tion on the subject of the efficiency bals and generally on the question of the general schem, of payment by seniority instead of by posts. The position is that is such a difficals small service as this is extremely

to fit the right mau iate the right pos because the man who is expert as a police magistrate' may be the serisi man is his "class and under the old system when a post such as that of Postmaster-General or Trea

nrer fell vacan: you had to promote a man to the post whether he were the best adapted to the work or not, while, the post might fit a junior officer who would prove an extremely good man in the post. That is not a very satisfactory position. Another objection to the late system of classification was that the work was very unevenly divíd. ́ed, in a small service like this, and also kept a man back from promotion fer quito ic a long time because his seniors were office and it was extremely hard for a man to be kept in class for ten to twelte years on that account before he could get I came to the conclusion, and Prezzoticn

the Secretary of State aged, that

ice. be to pas

fairer and better course a man on the plan now adopted so as to be certain you can employ a man to the best advantage and put him into a post for which he is fit. That only involves the abandoning of the stem of classification. There is a danger under this zyktet, course, that you must always be prepared to get a man contented to do the mi avant of work for the increment. There

ما

of

man.

is no reason why you should allow to proceed from top to bottom of the scale doing only a minimum amount of and being sure of his increments For this reason two halting places "have been made one at £800 and one at £900- think that is the only satisfactory miation, and under this scheme really good men will get promotion. In connection with that subject the hoz. member drew attention to the fact that in the Estimates certain departments showed blanks on page 17. The reason for that is partly as a result of this change in classification: It was desirable to place the Cades Service under a separate head. This system is followed by the Federated Malay States and Ceylon after

considerable experience trying to make -things clear. It has the disadvantage of not acabling anybody to see at a glance the total cost of a department, but I guar antee nobody has been able to ascertain what the total cost of a department was. in Hongkong under the other system. An officer, put into a department as a substitate would draw part of his pay from one depar ment for his previous position and part from the department in which he was le porarily placed, and this gave a very con siderable amount of annoyance to the Mccounting officers, as the bon. Colonial Treasurer, will tell you. I can see that at first sight it look rather curious to find all departments given in the Estimates without

heads, but I am sure when you get used to the system you will agree with me that it is more fatisfactory.

With regard to what the hon. member has said with regard to Magazine Gap Boad, I come to a certain amount of sympathy With the bon, member, and I may say this is one of the points on which I differ from some of my official colleagum. I think, however, some of the fears expressed by the hon, member"are rather unnecessary. I think the road is desirable. It will open up new sites and will relieve the intolerable congestion on the Peak Tramway, at least Te hope.60. The Peak Tramway will, we hope, be improved, and that is one ressou that the Colonial Secretary has given why the Wanchai Tramway has been dropped for the moment. It certainly will take sometime before the improvement of the trazaray is possible and I think it is highly desirable that the road should be provided to relieve the congestion. I think the danger to children is slightly exaggerated: The roads have many uses but playgrounds for children is not ons. of them. There is no serious dangée to children if they aIG properly looked after. The road will be. 20ft.

chile Zde and we are not depriving the

of any roads they have habitually med because the road is practically on a new line, "g

Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-There are very im Portant parts of the road, sit, which will disturb the present road that the children

.

new use in going to the playground, and for walks. This road will noi, as far as I am aware, open up any new sites.

The DIRECTOR or Prate Works-I do not think it will open up many.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR-If the new road had opened up any big site I would hara had no hesitation whatever in recommending , bas the fact that it will open up way sea all inficient for the opening of the road. The provision of an alternative route to the Peak imake one of importance. With regard to the disturbance of the peaco and quiet of the Peak. I do not think there' serious danger of night being made dens be a continual stream of cars racing over the Peak all night. Is there not a time limit, after which which motor cars are proibited.

Hoa, Mr. PoLock-They are very late

hours.

Hon. Mr. Hozroux-One s'ebek. I be

His Exquese-It necesary, that easi be altered. The hon. member's views on znas subject are pet supported by his cóf- lenges. When the proposal was made to 'emit the Wanchai Gap tramway the mem

bery on the Public Works Committee mada no observations in opustiva, to i.

Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-When was this mees ing belti

The Corost SECRETARY—There were two meetings. Une was an informal meeting because Mr. Holywak and Mr. Johnstone Kere going away. At the second meeting I was to present, bas the Director of Public Works reported that no change was made in the draft propozis.

HIS EXCELLENCY The probable cos the tramway would be somewhat heavy and for 13 by

it would be advantageons for 1: 10 etrod over. We may possibly com sider it text year and take it up in 1929

There remains the questive of pablic works from loans. I agree very hugely with what was said by the hon. member re- presenting the Chamber of Commerce but I am not sure that I have any definite information to support his contention that progresa has been retarded by the practice of paring for works out of rewaDS. bon members will have seen, the Public Werks programme containg, a very largo amount of work which exesot be paid för out of the revenue of this year, but wa ago in powession for the moment of certain balance, and think it is a wise policy to reduce these balances before recourse 15 kass, which must necessarily be very expez. sive. I was surprised at the figures given by the boa member (Mr. Parry with re- gard to a Shanghai ban. If you have a loan for a short term of years you have to provide very heavily for a sicking fund. Presuming it is me foated at par we shonid have to consider that as well, and is seeing likely that it would must to as anzusi paporn: of 9 per cent. It rather more than we can afford. If this were a case of a beavily saved community which could not- afford to pay for-large works from its income. I would certatoly support such a proposal. I think that this is probably the lightest taxed community in the world a

think the present momen; and

it. afford to go on paying out of its income. This policy, however, is likely to come to ar end shortly. What Sir Maurice Fitz- Maurice's proposals may be it will be the desire of the Council to carry them out, certainly to a large extent, and I feel quite confident from what I know of engineers that the proposals will favore a coas able expenditure. When that time comes-I am quite with the hon. member that we should réort to a loaz rather than retard develop- me=t..

The Bill was read a second and third time.

THE FORM OF FINANCIAL RETEENS..

CALI

The Hon. Mr. H. E POLLOCK, KO in accordance with notice given, asked a series of questions to which the Govern ment replied.

Questions and the answers made to them by the COLONIAL SECRETARY Bre appended:

Q-In view of the fact that the Govern-,,

meat have been able in 1990 to isang Financial repix monthly, instead of At times with more than one month's receipts and

payments

groaped together, will they give the usual total receipts for January, February and March 1919, also those of December, 1919, which have not been published, in order that some comparison can be obtained with the 1920 Bgures) A-The figures are:---Jandaг1919 Revenue 81,809,059,60; expenditure, $356,879.80.

February, 1919-Berenus, $1,952,636-70; expenditure, $723,971.53.

March, 1919-Revenue, $1,208,147-23; expenditure 81,266,103.23.

The figures for the three months were published together owing to the irregularity of the mails which brought the Crowm Agents' accounts for the three months within a very short time of one another.

For December, 1919, the figures are:- Revene 81.342.965-54: expenditure. $4,851,916.55

As the publication of the monthly cash account some three to four months later detracts considerably from a value, and ́in view of the fact that the Imperial Government is able to issue its Statement within a month after date, cannot, some improvement be instituted (possibly by standard- ising the items and obtaining Crown Agents London figures by telegraph. for incorporation) whereby the publica. tion can be made within the month following i

A-It is unfortunately impossible to publish accurate accounts "until the Crown Agenta monthly figures are received and fay them to telegraph the exact figures of £ 1 d. under each head would, involve expense out of all proportion to the beneft secured. The prolonged delays which have occasionally occurred in the past have been due to the irregularity of the.mail service. It is hoped that when a normal service is restored the delay is publication will be materially reduced.

Q-Whereas the monthly financial re- tura, merely gives the receipts and paymenta in "one item respectively, Which is the minimum of information which can be proïnced, and as the Government doubtlessly keeps its so counts in the form of the "Financial Beturns for the year," cannot Monthly Account be published to enable the officials - and · publicy to follow the returns intelligently on "ynch lines as follows, egi

Items of receipts, and payments" under their reparats standardised beadair columns reading

1-Estimated Receipts 1990. 2-Receipts to date -

a-Receipts to same date previous year. 4-Receipts for same month previous

· 5.-Eeceipta - for- current month, “with similar information on the other side respecting payments closing with the balances brought forward and carried" forward to complete the account 1:1 (Continued on: Page 11.)"