1941-02-20 — Page 34

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GOVERNMENT HEAVY FIRE IN

Unofficials Strong In Criticisms INEFFICIENCY ALLEGED

SHARP CRITICISM

OF GOVERNMENT'S

ADMINISTRATION

LEGISLA- FORMED THE FEATURE OF UNOFFICIAL SPEECHES IN TIVE COUNCIL THIS MORNING WHEN THE BUDGET DEBATE WAS OPENED ON THE FIRST READING OF THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL.

It was revealed that the new block at Police Headquarters is not to be proceeded with, nor the new Infectious Diseases Hospital in Kowloon.

Unofficial Members strongly condemned

the raising of the Income Tax "bogey" and argued that if further war revenue is required it should be raised within the framework of the existing tax scheme with, perhaps, some of its "iniquities” ironed out.

Chinese members of Council were vigorous in criticism of the working of the Immigration Depart- ment, and there were suggestions in the speeches of several members that an inquiry should be held into allegations of inefficiency in certain departments.

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I

THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRÚARY 20, 1941.

UNDER

DEBATE

ed by my Honourable friend the and breeds a parochial-minded

| service. Financial Secretary,

Everyone must regret the need for the pruning that has taken place, and must also admit that we lag behind lamentably in the The matter of social services. leeway must be made up as soon as possible, but surely it is noth- ing less than lunacy to spend large sums on elaborate hospitals and police stations on the surface of the ground while at the same time we are building a network of air raid shelter tunnels under it.

am very glad indeed that the Government have agreed to for include an extra $100,000 the University, of which the re venue has been so badly re- duced by the fall in the value of the Chinese National Dollar that it can barely carry on in a manner befitting the Colony. Our prestige is at stake, and it seems to me we should either run the University efficiently, or not at all.

Lightly Taxed

In the Report of the last War Committee the mem- Revenue

composed of the leading bers, business men of the Colony un- Chairmanship of my der the

the Attorney Honourable friend General, were unanimous in re- commending that:-

"Before fresh taxation is imposed to meet this need, a Commission (pre- ferably a Royal Commission) be set up to investigate the whole organisa- tion of civil government in this Cony with a view to ascertaining whether economies to It is possible

effect which would permit of a substantial increase in the programme of social

Increase unduc

of services without laxation."

Pressing Need

We realise that the present situation renders it impossible for this recommendation to be car- ried out, but if the same Com- mittee is reconstituted this year, I hope they will repeat this ne- 1941 re- commendation in their port, lest 1940's be pigeon-holed and forgotten,

The paucity and mediocrity

Should revenue fall short of expectations or should expendi-

unforeseen ture at present incurred that sanction will

the withhold,

My

friend Honourable Besides thanking, on behalf of Financial Secretary considers it

There is pressing need for a inevitable that we increase our thorough overhaul of a system the Government and, I think

Colony, the War Taxation and favours an In- Say the whole

which has raised the total of per- may Unofficial members for the time come Tax rather than an increase sunal emoluments to such a fabu- and labour which they gave to the in the present War Revenue Orlous sum that the Colony's taxable

of the estimates in dinance rates. Except as regards preparation

equal to also providing what their revised form, 1 should like the Salary Tax, I am not affected capacity in normal times is not to express my particular gratitude by our local taxation, my Com- should be provided for our social to the Financial Secretary and to pany being registered at Home. services.

Todd. I an My views therefore are perhaps his assistant, Mr.

In comparison with very conscious of my own short-suspect. comings in this respect but I feel: Home taxation the Colony is of Members course ridiculously lightly taxed. Honourable

during the At the same time, I am not in will appreciate that

favour of increasing taxation on past few months it has been phy-

the the low level incomes.

I am quite sure that the execu- sically impossible to devote

Married men with

salaries tive heads

Government of the time and attention that are nor-

Colonial around say $10,000 per annum are

staffed these departments not with of a mally expected

men they considered to be sult- of the institution, at a cost of over Secretary in framing the financial I know finding it increasingly dif-

ficult to make ends meet. Cost of able for the jobs, but with senior four lakhs, of a system of night-policy for the coming year,

living statistics show a very sub- men they had either to find jobs soil removal by labour directly

stantial rise and those young mar- for or pension off long before their employed by the Sanitary Depart-

ried men with evacuated families | pensionable age. Although they" and two households to maintain, přebatly won't admit it, they proceed

should receive greater considera- | know in their heart of hearts that Lion in the allowances for wives and children, provided they pay their evacuation maintenance ex- penses themselves. I an also strongly in favour of exempting

The Hon. Mr. Leo d'Almada, for instance, de- clared: "I suggest, Sir, that Government emulate the Dictators in one regard, and take measures to purge its ranks."

Moving that the Estimates for the year 1941-42 as now presented, be approved, the Hon. Mr. N. L. Smith said:

to

On 16th January, 1941, by it ment. As it is impossible, in pre... Resolution of this Council The sent circumstances, druit estimates of expenditure for with the complete scheme as re- 1941-42 were referred to a Selvet commended by the Health Au-

Committee consisting of myself, the Financial Secretary and all We now present our report in the form of the amended print bearing to-day's date.

unofficial members of this Coun- cjl.

As foreshadowed in the speech of the Honourable Financja] Se- cretary on 16th January the pro- Vision for the construction of new Lighthouse Tender has been excised.

a

sure that

MR. PATERSON'S BRIEF SPEECH The Hot. Mr. J. J. Paterson, thorities, considerable doubt was opening the debate for the un- expressed as to whether the heue-officials said: It is usual for the tits to be gained by the substitu- Unofficial opening the debate to tion of coolies employed by Gor- deal with those matters on which

the existing free- trament for lance coolies would be commen- surate with the expenditure in-

volved: it was decided, however, that the provision for the emolu - ments of the 2,000 coolies should be allowed to stand in the draft estimates on the understanding that no actual expenditure will It has also been decided not be incurred without the specific to proceed during the coming in-approval of the Finance Commit- ancial year with the building of tee after further consideration of the proposed new block of offices the whole matter. and quarters at the Central Po-sumcient time, when this lice Station, though a token vote of $50,000 remains in the draft estimates to cover any expendi- ture that may have been incurred in the preparatory work of draw- ing up plans, etc.

There was in- item

came for consideration, to reach a anal decision on this important question and the Finance Commit- tee desires an early opportunity of a full discussion with the Health Authorities, upon which Similarly the Select Commit will depend the question of au- tee felt that the times are not thorising actual expenditure. sufficiently propitious and the The following are the items plans not sufficiently matured to which have been omitted or re- permit the building of the produced: — posed

Infectious Diseases new Hospital at the Kowloon dical Centre.

we are all agreed and in which no very other

has any member this year leaves me little to say, special interest, This procedure

We have written His Excel- lene about the conduct of some of Government's affairs which we sadly feel to be bad.

dealt This will we hope be

do with at another time; we wonder how it is that, alone of all the Services and unlike the business world, no member of ever our local Heavenborn Is dismissed for inefficiency. Per- haps the answer is that none is over inefficient.

The budget is a good budget and on behalf of all the unofficials I would like to thank our Financial Secretary for the very great care he has taken of the Colony's fin- ances,

We have suggested the post- ponement of various works which Harbour Department. Personal we believe can very well keep Me Emoluments. Crew for New until later and those bave been

Lighthouse Tender $3,471.

New Lighthouse Tender $600,-

The Budget Committee realises that this hospital is recommended 000.

in the Technical Hospitalisation. Medical Department, Equipment Committee's report, 1938-1939, as for New Infectious Diseases Hos- the first major item in a long-term pital $103,590. programme but it feels that, apart Public Works Extraordinary. from difficulties of providing the Central Police Station New necessary building materials, this Block (Reduced from $300,000 to is not the time or place to cm-$50,000) $750,000. bark immediately on this hospital. The sum of $100,000 has however (Reduced from $500,000 to $100," been provided which is larger 000) $400,000.

than the usual "foken vote" in case it may be possible in

-coming year to make a start.

the

Infectious Diseases Hospital

New Duties

agreed to, I think the result lies on the table. There is one item however which still remains open, the collection of night soil by Government at a cost of $384,000 for coolies only, we firmly believe supervision can be given to the existing arrangement until we can see more clearly what the future holds for us.

Incomprehensibility

charitable contributions from taxation. This is done at Home and if it isn't done here our charities will surely suffer,

Iniquities Of Bill

On that of 1940, even at the Bame

of the executive material avall- able this year to fill the special war time departments has, I think, confirmed my last year's criticism up to the hilt.

this is the case. The Prime Minis- ter has made it clear that he wants to rid himself of much of the ver- blage and red tape in which the

service abounds. Let us pray that,

at the end of this war, he will go further, and see that it is placed on a more businesslike and work- able footing.

MR. M. K. LO'S

SPEECH

the Unofficials have position, deemed such exclusions wise in the circumstances.

I personally regret that, owing to the general financial situation, the long-promised rebuilding of Queen's College has once more, to be deferred.

I um convinced thut a change from the present compromise taxation to a straight income tax The Senior Chinese Unofficial, would lead to the same unfor- the Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo said:-I tunate opposition that it encoun- have very little to say on the tered last year. Rather I think we Budget now before this Council, should endeavour to iron out which represents the result of the some of the iniquities of the pre- deliberations of the Select Com- sent Bill. There must surely bemittee to which the Draft Estim- a great advantage in knowing lates were referred. what revenue it produced on the It is a matter for regret that basis of 1939.

certain desirable items have had

from to be deleted.

the

Dra But, in view of th. rate, it should produce Estimates. more, wheras to force an in- budgetary position and the uncer- come tax on an unwilling Chin-tainty of the immediate economic ese population might easily lead to, our getting less revenue and

to collect cost us more During the deliberations of the Select Committee, the conduct of certain Government departments came in for much adverse criti- cism. My Honourable friend the

My colleagues and I recently Senior Member has already dealt

should be made representations to Govern- with this matter, but lacking in my duty were I not also ment as to the imperative neces- to stress the extreme seriousness sity, of budgetting for a substantial of the many adverse reports and amount in the then coming Estim- ates, to be allocated entirely to complaints which far too many anti-tuberculosis measures and members of the public have brought to the notice af us Un-equipment. We felt strongly that officials.

much of the already heavy, thoughi necessary,

the expenditure on medical side would not be of much avail if the problem of tubercu- losis, entailing such widespread liness, distress and mortality, were to be left untouched. Gov- ernment has replied to the effect that it has been decided to defer a decision on this matter until the return to the Colony of Sir Geoffry Northcote. I hope that before long something will be done an this regard.

Unfortunately, few, if any of the serious charges made can be supported by evidence because those concerned are unwilling to come forward for that pur pose, but grievancea are 80 numerous that in the interests of the departments themselves ទង់ woll 20 that of tha public, an inquiry should be held.

*

The necessity for Evacuation is: at last apparent; I feel that some part of all three parties to it be- The provision of funds for the Turning to the other side of the haved badly, the Colonial Govern- equipment of this hospital has picture,

the new or additional ment which failed completely to been omitted, as it is felt that, duties on table waters, hydrocar-make proper arrangements ahead apart from the uncertainty which bon oils and liquor which were of the event, some of the evacuees surrounds the hospital itself, there imposed with effect from 18th who continue to complain I think are at least hopes of considerable January have necessitated a re- unduly of hardships which when the bomb-light of emergency stores being available vision of the estimate of revenue: viewed in during the coming financial year. revenue from Duties will, it is Coventry are little enough, and the Home Government when it Under Charitable Services provi- now estimated, amount to $15,- slon has been made for a grant of 690,000 instead of $13,740,000.

failed to enforce laws laid down Deadly Disabilities $10,000 to the British Fund for

The estimated deficit of $7,- and allowed non cooperation to

Last year in the remarks I Relief of Distress in Chind and 559,776 shown in the draft esti-succeed. A Trinity of Incompre-made during the budget debate, I under Miscellaneous Services, in

16th hensibility which reminds me of mates as presented

I must say I am glad Govern- expressed my conviction that the response to pressing representa-

St. Athanasius, his creed, January is thus, reduced

Government was suffering from ment has budgetted $150,000 for tions from the University Authorl- ^68,850,716,

three deadly disabilities: firstly, the establishment of an experi- ties, the annual grant to the

MR. DODWELL ON

their inability to dispense with mental agricultural station in the University of Hong Kong has been

LIGHT TAXATION the services of an unsatisfactory New Territories, and I hope that increased by the sum of $100,000,

servant; secondly, promotion by the result of the experiment to be Nightsoll Plan In

The Hon. Mr. S. H. Dodwell seniority rather than ability, and made in regard to the disposal, said: Amendments to the Budget thirdly the higher pay obtaining night-soll in the New Territories, Abeyance

recommended by the Select Com-In this Colony as compared with for which $80,000 has been bud mittee and agreed to by His Ext most others, which reduces to agetted, will prove satisfactory.

I observe that the notual re- The Select Committee also

cellency have considerably reduced minimum the healthy transfer of the defcit originally foreshadow- 1 staff from one Colony to another, (Qontinued on Page -8) brought under review the matter

.on

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Lastly, I would remind Hon- ourable Members that every item of Special Expenditure in all de- partments and every item of Pub- ile Works Extraordinary requires the independent sanction of Gov- ernment apart from the general provision offered by the Appro- priation Bill."

Revenue Figures