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arrive at the figure for the succeeding year.
The estimates for all Crown Colonies are drawn up in the way ours are, and it is very necessary to have a uniform system. The hon. member also referred to the Volunteers and their paucity, and I heartily agree with him that they are too few. Perhaps, when the present war is over some different system will be inaugurated by which we will have many more volunteers. But he was not quite right, and it is perhaps necessary should correct him when he said the Reserves were filled with men over 35 years of age. We accept nen of 30 years of age who have had five years' volunteer servic», and of 32 years of age who have had three years' volunteer service. Therefore, there are a number of men in the Reserves, who by reason of their naval, military or volunteer service are eligible long before they reach 35. and that is one of the reason which makes this body such a valuable body of men, having such a large number of trained men in the ranks. The hon. member who represents the Chamber of Commerce echoed my own fears when he referred to the large increase in per- sonal emoluments, The increase is very large and I think that if we had not framed these estimates before war broke out we should have framed them in a more economical manner as far as we could. For instance, it is quite possible we should not have taken over the Ellis Kadoorie School, which is going to cost us over $33,000 in the Education Department over and above the expenditure of last year. The other items, though big, are hardly avoidable. In the Sanitary Department there is a considerable increase which is partly covered by prospective econonies in managing the scavenging ourselves. In the Public Works Department there is also a con- siderable increase which, as the Director of Public Works explained, is due to the addition of three land surveyors, and the Post Office shows a very large increase, principally due to the radio-telegraphic staff amounting to $16,000. I can assure the hon. member that these elimates
of expenditure are very carefully scrutinised, and any criticians which hon members make anriually on that subjzet are most welcome. The Colonial Secre tary and I both have a difficult task in keeping down expenditure, and if we know we have the unofficial members at our back in inculcating economy, our hands are much strengthened. The hon. member who represents the Chamber of Commerce also paid us a welcome compli- ment on our policy of not borrowing money. Year in and year out we hajo been advised to build our public works out of borrowed capital, but I think the remarks made concerning the opium n venue shows how wise is the policy to pay as much as we can out of revenue. He pext adverted with a very light touch to the military contribution. Well, 1 hope
that he and his colleagues will never refor to the subject again as long as I am Governor, because I never like acting in opposition to the wishes of the unofficial members, but this is a subject on which I am absolutely obstinate, and I think I might well be. If you will recollect, sometime ago I laid on the table a despatch from the Secretary of State with regard to the cost of the garrison in Hongkong, and from that, interesting document it appeared that the total cust of the garrison for the year 1912-13 was £614,000, and the contribution of the colony in respect of that was only £113,000. leaving the British taxpayer, that much burdened and long suffering individual, ta find the other £470,000. As long 2-8 that condition of things exists I do not think we can properly ask to shift more of the burden on to his shoulders to lighten our own. I do not think there is any other question the hon. member has referred to that I have not touched upon.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT AS I moved resolution I have to stand by my right to reply.
I
HIS EXCELLENCY-I beg pardon. understand you want to move an adjournment.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-I want to refer to your Excellency's speech in the first place. I consulted the Colonial Secretary and he informed me that I would have to move an adjournment in order to enable me to have the right to reply. I also have another amendment to move for the reduction in a certain vote, and I gave notice of this in my opening remarks.
HIS EXCELLENCY-I will just explain the procedure. Of course, as you know, no member can speak twice unless he proposes a resolution. If you move an adjournment you can only make remarks concerning the motion. You cannot move an adjournment and make a speech on the estimates. You can move an adjournment which will have to be seconded and put to the House, and if the motion is carried you can reopen the debate.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-I rise to a point of order. I have on a previous occasion attempted to reply to the speeches made by the official members and the Governor in reply to a speech I was asked to make on financial matters by my unofficial colleages. At one time I was ruled out of order because 1 did not move a resolu- tion. On other occasions, at least one, I did move a resolution, and I was allowed to speak. My unofficial colleagues and I discussed this question the other day, and we were in some little doubt as to how a reply should be made. I came up personally to see the Colonial Secre- tary, who saw you, and he gave me to understand that if I moved an adjourn ment it gave me the right to reply to the remarks of the official members. I con- sider, Sir, it is wrong that I should not be allowed to reply, for it is not as though I am doing this off my own bat.
HIS EXCELLENCY-The motion has got to be seconded and carried, and if it is carried you can reopen the debate.
Hon. Mr. HeWET I submit it is very hard on unofficial members who come here once a year to discuss the Bud- get to be absolutely debarred from making a reply in any circumstances whatsoever to the Governor's speech. I submit, Sir, that that is wrong, and if I am not allow- ed to do anything else I would ask for a
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