1961-03-17 — Page 1

THE CHINA MAIL, FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1961.

AT THE RATE THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT IS GROWING...

One day, we'll all

be public servants

NEXT

[EXT Wednesday the unofficial MLCs Mr Arthur make their replies to Clarke's Budget proposals in the Legisla. tive Council. What, we are all wondering, will they say about the "Body Corpulent”.

This was the leg-pulling epithet applied to the Public Service by Mr Hugh Barton in last year's budget reply when he criticised provisions for a total staff increase of almost 5,000 souls.

But ir Barton was not just

Government's

The second is that the anaval east of running the service is 4proaching the million-dollar

Indulging in whitney a continues, we may wake up one EXPENSE. Yuriy and all thil ourselves pubile will remember he urged the servants, pointment of a "tip-top manoje- ment consultant“ to overhaul the live biggest departments Public Works, Police, Urban Services, Health and Education and he spoke of the need to "effect badly needed economies.” Other Unolicinis stressed the need to intensify the training and ritention of local officers,

Challenge

TU

You may remeniler also Mr Claude Bioges's reply.

The Colonial Scertly said Govern- meni wa ennsidering a scheme to examine the organization of the larger departments in the hope that "we shall no valy

benefits in Kavita specille lution to those departments, but that the exercise itself will fach us much in relation to general problems outside the particule subject of enquiry."

Mr Burgess added Government

acerpied challenge thrown down by the Unomeinly on this and the other questions they eaised.

Well, what has happened? The Government esilinates for

yuor shaw a marked drop Their annual net increase

איית

staff for 1359-601 execeded 5,000. In the last fancial year the in- creage was 4,081, while

NEXL

yeat

thr estimated increase (1) is for 2,899.

Quite a cui, isn't it?

there are four sobering But Thoughts.

a day mark,

The third is that the numbers on the Government payroll have almost tripled in the last eleven yats, from 18,000' odd to move than 50,000.

The fourth is that the east of the public service-$350 million -is

no less

than four times

what it was eleven years ago.

So there can be no room for complacency.

Control

to

What Government has aim at ir a controlled maximum rate of Inurvase very much below the present rate.

31

seems likely

that the

By

R. G. HUTCHEON

THE

Look what happened last cut their expenditure by only | THE Manila year, We lost one department. $20,000 or less. the

Quartering Omce, and The other three?

Immirration gained two, the Department and the Publlo The Stores Department plans Enquiry Board. One step for- to reduce expenditure by more ward, two steps back.

than $300,000. This is because ment has suddenly woken up to the fact that it is cheaper to have furniture made outside the by department presumably private enterprise — and people have been from the payroll.

There are of course good rea- sons for These changes, but there always are when stream- lining involves expansion.

What we should aim at is to expend only where essential, to improvise wherever possible for as long as possible and to prude

and reorganise ruthlessly to

achieve balancing economies,

Best wages

is an invitation

after all these years Govern-

Hotel

where I stayed has quite a bit of history of General Mac- its own. Arthur was there just before the place fell to the Japanesc—at - least, so I was told. removed Then it

02

The Post Office estimate of staff expenditure is also down

was some

kind of headquarters for the Japanese; as the tide turned, it again the American hard Ferved

Forces.

quite a lot $426,000, but the reason for that is rol

to find. You wil remember the Teotball pools force last year no doubt. Well in the 1980-6!

Well, that WAS all very

We do not believe that this financial year Government was interesting. So I told them-ar so confident that this harmless rather reminged them of some- to inefletenytte parlour game would pass thing. When the stumboyant mudate and delays, If it is, then through Logislative Colineli General

MacArthur, (who by there is something wrong with without a hitch that it approved our public service. They are

to less than $782,700 for more the way, was a Field Marshal in his own right in the Philip- paid the bust wages in the com- then 260 posts in # newly

during President munity and the puble has the established

pine Army Football Potils Fas

Manuel Quezon's time) Was right to expect in return excep- Division.

asked if the Philippines could onal service.

1 defended, unhesitating reply.

Let us look at some other happened, "economics".

It may interest the taxpayer to know that

of 52 heads of expenditure

antal Government pay cheque, only decrease It

will go on rising in certain de. partments, notably health, education and ban services

for a number of years,

But this does not mean that there

candat be economies made in other departments, We believe there can be.

Unfortunately whatever economies Government is likely la maku will be mon than offset by the continuing profi- feration of departments and divisions within department. within

sub-divisjons

and divisions.

We know it in Hongkong as if this the empire-building process,

One is that our public service in spite of the economies, is in- 'creasing today almost twice as fast as our population,

Bake

PARSON

ved ancaber perfectly-ilmed paneb

from Gicason...

this year's nine, show

their

12 pro-

posed staff expenditure cam-

R pared with last

year and their saving fatala little more than one million dollars out of a total staf budget of $350 million.

Of course, we all know what be

A saving

more

this Post itself which

Have

an

He said that nir power would be Ineffective against the islands, and that an infantry invasion was scarcely possible.

the Furthermore,

Flipino General Stuff agreed with him. Then along came the Japanese them that they Just to show were wrong on both accounts.

Tyranny

FESTIVAL

IN MANILA

JOHN LUFF

BY

CONSIDER YOUR

VERDICT

The Jury greets the President (lr)-Alfredo Lozano; Tan Wee Tionu: Che mat Philippines, Mrs Hisham Albakri; John Luf: Lina Flor Trinidad; First Lady of the Carlos Garcia; President Carlos Garcia; Cling Choong-ryang; Li Yuch; LA "Yel; "Kiyo- hiko Ushiwara.

to

Well, back to the jury room...

and

the

alim did not win even one award. The that, in spite of lis reason is

When I told Father Sheridan that would give him a few days CinemaScope

Eastün about it, he saw,

Colour the Joke too, aft work if he liked.

Alm ever

made in laughed quite a bit, showed h Now I know

horse Korea. I do not mind saying 300 As presumably none of money was

party round, and took a slide players won't believe a word I that I hoped they might win, spent, the

exactly for it

it is all to the good i photograph of the notice board say, but it happened Once therefore removes

which he intends to show when like that. If 3 and 5 had been prizes move round a bit, from the tiepartments

written on the wall, I could not Unfortunately, this he gives a lecture on Manila. managed to achieve a saving.

However, and instead it is planning to

i explained my have seen it platner. than it

mirth

of one spend $330,000

the good did last year.

fathers, and he understood, and

The evening of the tenth day beauty, it lacked situations; the He was rather arrived. I found li was the direction was laughed in turn. The only other department

a wonderful person with a rich Jury's wish that I should total enough; their "per- to show a saving in the next

Just to square things up, the wind, and he spoke a kind of the marks. If you think this obvious signa of Is the Census,

kind of drivel was pedantic English with a

0150 rich was an honour, it was. On the expenditure #nancial year

of colour in certain the field work the

of which was same Census, following:

Hongkong right vocabulary. As he spoke I was other hand, it meant that they studio shots. Therefore, completed during the present Spoken about Royel Hongkong Defence Force.

reminded of the songs of St could lour about town: Father matching was bad in places. Manpower, Auxillary

financial year so that seems top to 1941. Medical explain why they need to spend

from the Not tar

Manila John of the Cross, as translated Sheridan went to a distant cool The Philippines also drew Service. Information Services,

by Roy Campbell.

monastery

In the mountains, blank nave for an ad hoc award. less next year out staff than this. Hotel are the considerable re- Kowlsen Canton Railway, Post

of old Manila-the

and stayed to total our find Why? Well, I wish mains

say sorne- Office, Trade Union Registry

heat of thing about The Filipinos, no

ings amid the humid

Philippine culture and Stores.

Manila. than we, have their and I saw

Those departments propose to reduce sonal emoluments" are

which

It is to be hoped that Govern-walled city,

doca ment

not regard the less

oľ people making

Six out of nine departments onslaught on the public service squatter problems, or divisions have managed to as oth of those routine belly all kinds

aches which governments all homes in the shelter of the over the world have come to walls, and in the remains of expect from legislatures, thethe dungeons which once en- Press and the public.

closed upon the unfortunate prisoners of Spanish tyranny.

But

to 1 wanted tell you about a very old church situ ated in the walled city. It is called San Augustin, and per hapa I was attracted to ti by its name, for was it not that saint who first brought the sweet tidings of Christianity to England?

Because we hasten to recall what happened in Hongkong 25 years ago.

Those with long memories might remember how the late and widely venerated Sir Mar- kam Lo launched a virtual cen- sure motion on the Government, condemning those in authority for creating "a large and costly" civil service and calling for "Immediate steps to effect all retrenchments."

The Governor. Sir Andrew Caldecoti, expressed sympathy and agreed with the spirit of the motion and promised to do all he could to cut down on costs

Well, San Augustin's is the oldest church in the Philippines, but, shame to say, the sweet tidings have turned rather sour over the centuries.

A laugh

However, outside the church

Too fierce

By the way,

you have seen

The

and

not

strong

there

were Wrong

the

A

in my final article, but here are a few remarks. Their films Now read this carefully. how many of

After every Alm, the juror is are tou long and obviously pad- Jai Alai? Of handed a card upon which he ded. Their stories are often out- Course, you might have made awards the dlm points between moded, not typical of their own a trip through Spain either on one and ren. The card also hra culture. They tell us of situa your way to or from England, brackets for outstanding merits tions which are not necessarily and seen the game played there. included in the film....actors, Philippine, yet their own lore I suppose this game, played in a direction, photography, and so a rich, dramatle, and full- sort of fives court, with a kind on

blooded. The Filipino films we cards

good commercials, were collected saw were of basketwork extension of the

but not Festival entries, hand, is the fastest game in the every day and locked up in a world.

safe, including a duplicate set which the furor is handed after The the screening is Anished. object being that he can revise his marks, should he so desire. The non-dramatie

I was given a large dir "This is Hongkong,” brought conditioned rocen in which to the prize here because It was work-complete with offices, commissioned by the Gov- as we so politely put it so chiment of Hongkong, but it for any- was made by Tom Hodge who there was no excuse one saying they wanted to take lives in Singap re. Mr Hodge a walk.

The ball is simply hurled against

a wall by the first player, and the second burls it the first back in turn, either

tou rebound or if the ball is Berce as it rebounds from the opposite wall.

Six or eight players like part, and the winner and runner-up those who win five and three games, when six players are taking part.

are

But of course, the big interest

but the motion was lost when 1st noticeboard. When I read is in the batting. The first time

throw out the

votes to six.

crest of n bcom.

But

stay there

yard, wrote

Strong entries

different then. heretic, no douard, it tells

but this was of tips, which really means that following procedure. That

We cannot continue at nie.

ΟΤΙ

IN THE DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND

THE cocktail was called Sneaky Pete, and its

By DAVID ASH

how

that

day.

Only threat

winner,

is an old hard. at the gome, and it is due to bim that the Malayan Film Unit has scored for so long. But directly he entered a film made by him- the Malayan

educational TV programmes, therefore, we had to work at out

the Government steam-roller it, I laughed like a drain. Tho I went, I sat in the top lounge On the morning of March 9, self, he broke

motion by nine good fathers, pacing the court- with the bar behind. The at- I called a meeting of the com- Film Unit's monopoly of wins, prize to Hong- recommended the and sent the off as a daft tendants come up with all kinds mittee and. me

all kong. Times were

you they cover all kinds of combina- names would be cut from ear- The Shaw Brothers are the Hongkong was slowly emerging it. On the

someone in the pleted cards. No one the lions, so that

would only real threat to Japanese from one of its worst depres- that San Augustin's is slons, Today we

the others aupremacy in flims. The rea- that it had party is bound to win and tip then know on the oldest church, and are

vated. That the counting sun is. Dat they set about the of the atterdant accordingly. survived the earthquakes

and You forecast the first

would be done in one long ses- business in the right way. They But when this year and that. We cannot hope to

well you sion. That during that time no are daring; they experiment. sailed along second, and to bel the English fleet unless Govern-

one would be allowed to leave During the last year, Mr Run ment puts the brakes in 1702, the carthquakes had cover your fancy up and down.

the room, (in the literal sense Run Shaw has been on the staff expansion.

nothing on the English, and the Such as five pesos on 5 and 0.

of course) and that all papers sets of every major film com- Think of it today's bill for British Navy soon accomplished and on and 5.

be destroyed im- pany in the western world, as earthquakes had You can lose money quicker would public service pay and pensions what the

The mediately we had est:blished well as taking поте than a than you can at the dogs. alone-$350 million is just a failed to do.

Jost,

The our Andings. That teilers peek, at the Japanese, ittle less than the entire 14 you have Latin logic, I first time I went,

be watched by

As a man, he is bold, What Government expenditure only hasten to add that none of this second time, I was not rightly would

scrutineers; That. when TC- he does not know, he finds out. eight short years ago.

is meant in an offensive spirit at the Jai Alai at all. I was at a

freshments were brought, We

He shook them at Cannes just this and if you see if my way press party, and fell in with a

couple of Australian characters would serve them ourselves,

The thing the joke is on the English.

who were attending Manila in We had to call upon certain under a year ago. thic

Is, you can't make dims with- dignitaries Australia's divie interests of

courage. Yott handlo # fortune every time. You can- As I am quite sure the Aus- night.

We had m

play safe. This is the early meal and not would be tralian Government

on the leason some of the other Asian CTORS 20 hear that their met at eight o'clock March

Yet, as of attending such evening

We countries must learn. 0. delegates were They moved to the East End functions as greeting movie had a calculating machine with If to contradict myself, I have to accrecy; seen a prize winning flum made of London, where the minister riars and such wasteful pursuits an operator swor

a producer-director who spent his spare time with his as press conferences, I will re- at any rate, he did not know by

the titles of the files we were way so hard up, be slept out- "other congregation," working train froin giving their names.

doors while he made it. He He is a short, chunky man in without having to be unctuous as a sandwich-board

calling.

gathered his actors as he went his sixties. He said: "Five or goody-goody."

un organ grinder.

I got them to work in relays. along. He worked at odd jobs Midnight came, 'We ́had a long and bought film. Не became 100. Seven Congrega- barrel drgan which played

way to go. It was four o'clock in a slave to his art. He won, Brighton, in favour of the wider tional ministers are now living Standi Up, Stand Up, for

What I wanted to say was, the morning as we wrote the list ministry of the rond.

Warner Brothers are Slming in cotinges he has endowed in Jesus and "For Those in Peril,

we had a fow drinks, nfler for the menting to be held five in Marila, Jeff Chandler asked Sussex with £5,000 in memory on the Sen," he said.

me about the method of judg- of his wie Georgina, who died Life on the

has not which I suld I was going onto hours later. road

when he came to the prize ing in 1952 "of hardship," he said. tways

that the giving. I full been

ol good the balcony to watch Jai Alal,

The reason was, The attendant

told him of the were FO strong. "She never complained when humour and saved souls, Dpring Which I did.

only method of marlong cards. "had made some money by I spent all my holidays tramp cao of his many hikes abroad wheedled up and sald con- entries

and Three, decimal points separated

Of course, our system is not disbelief they joined him at a their new friend was a parson my books, but on my tours I ing the roads. She helped me Mr Jennings had to run for his fidentally. Two

four top Aitas. Every entry coffee counter. He talked to who has a nice semi-detached have earned my passage by run missions and look after the fe when an Hungarian gipsy, sir." them eanually about life, food, house in a nice London suburb, cleaning windows, street singing, tramps we used to put up at drunk with Tokay, chased him{

Upon which I replied; "Don't made by Japan was strong, not be a glot. Go and place these one Japanese gim. had a weak work, and several other things

The Rev. Frank Jennings has serving in a bar. I've slept in most remorsefully.

even our own homes," he added, ni with knife. they hadn't heard about in a

During the last war he was a nice noich on numbers Three ness anywhere.

I tumbled into bed at, five Just returned to it in Kingsbury the filthiest dons-houses long time.

chaplain to the Forces. Ad for and Five ang Five und Threo." after an eight-month world tour the flean

I felt I should watch my o'clock in the morning, alter Suppone for instance. a long time he has been un- official chaplain to all the players, and I did give them a seeing every scrap of paper, tune up a juror who marka' on circuses and showmen. "I've certain amount of vocal en- destroyed. I was up and ready n Antion rather than n married midgels and chrkslen- |couragement, and when Three four hours later to give my artistic basin? Now he is writing a book who were once doctors and The first tramp he took home ad clowns," eatd.

Test two of his games, I report to the Jury. He stayed the night with about them and in his cosy, melentists--reduced by drink “lo Was a man he saw "grizzling" But sometimes the laugh i

The shouted some extremely severe

caused Bihouncement them at a Christian inission, untidy stukly he told me: bumming around, these devil's (ainging and begging) in New against him. One tramp he criticism, but Five was true to some heart.

burning DIY- One of the hobocg was so - really had to look like these playgrounds," he said.

castle back in 1910, "He, stimu talked to in the casubl ward form, and in a

few moments appointment was obvious, and prised at being taken for u real people so that I could help "It's been_the_cime in Indio, lated my curiosity and from at Epsom told him: "I manage the atttendant returned with nevere,, Kores had entered a human being that he went off them. I stopped shaving, wore Hongkong, Japan, and Australien on my wife and I spent to make a bob or two cadging my considerable winnings. fins Eastman Colour costume the next morning and somehow ragged clothes and 巩 dirty la. And I'm humbly, glad to fions perlous with stum folk sou from parsons. They ve ai̟WAY?

out, drink. Thay got himself a nuit of clothes and musster. And It was well worth say that I've helped nulte a few beggars,"

Upon which, I walked

WAS the first u job.

While"

back on

after afving fro attendant Up confident. It

active ingredients were brilliantine, boot polish, and methylated spirits.

The drinkers were a pathetic collection of human wrecks in a back street of New York's Bowery.

Another ragged, unshaven tromp shuffled up and stagger-

But others,

nelther ha

the nor who went back on to

cd them by offering to buy a round of coffees.

After a moment of cynical the Sneaky Pele, realised that

His book

I

man or

last Congregational church, at home, years ago Tetired from my He has been charitable at "I managed to get a religious:

Doctors...

peddling matches, and

to investigate the down-and- hard." outs of several countries,

where

have really bitten

In America he hasmet tramps

to the right path— Yected.

A knife

Mr Jennings rucol „kokéed with mòray.",

oidon keprák Bérvize),

Big tip

the

fool-proof, but that is not my business, I am invited to co- operate on basis already established.

But I am.

into worried. there

TOMORROW:

Ware aver Portrait of a Hero

(ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

4