COUNCIL
(6.11.14)
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-Might I suggest that it would assist if we move the suspen. sion of No. 26 of the Standing Orders.
HIS EXCELLENCY-You can do it that
way.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-I beg to move that, Ilon. Mr. WEI YUK secondes, and the motion was agreed to.
Hon. Mr. EWETT-The explanation of the Director of Public Works on all the points 1 have made is eminently satis- factory, but I think he slightly misunder- stood me when I spoke on the question of the estimates for his department. I quite understand estimates ought to be made as closely as possible, and that is what we ask. We do not ask to have close estimates made for such buildings as the Law Courts and the Post Office. A decrease of $130,000 in 2 million is of course going as near as any reasonable man could expect to get. With regard to the hon. Colonial Treasurer's remarks on sub- sidiary coinage, 1 understand that $11,000,000 has been withdrawn from circulation. The original amount was about $38,000,000 or $40,000,000, and we require from $2,000,000 to $2,500,000 for our own use, As $11,000,000 is wiped out, that leaves $26,500,000. We may reason- ably take it that about one-third of that at least has disappeared into bullion. Therefore, I presume that the Colonial Treasurer will be called upon to buy some thing like $13,000,000 or $14,000,000 more. Thai is further loss, and we stand to lose 15 or 16 per cent. on that sum of money. I wanted to arrive at some sort of estimate as to how much more this Colony will have to pay for the rehabilitation of its coinage. With regard to what the Colonial Treasurer said about house rents, I think he overlooked the fact that in assessing the value of house property it is generally taken at 75 per cent. of the value; because there are always a certain number of houses which are empty. Therefore, 1 maintain that the present assessment, taken a year or two ago, is probably higher than any which has been taken in the last five years. With regard to what was said about the railway, if 862,000 represents the cost of that coal, and good steaming engine coal is put into the tender, then it works out at a price of about $8 to $81, which is not excessive.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I can give you the figure. But in the yard the cost is 4100.00 per ton, Ila yard -
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-I was not dealing with the price. I was speaking of the
value.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-The price seems to me, even if it were #10 in the yard, not excessive. With regard to the procedure of the debate. I must say I am sorry I cannot refer to the old question. Were the Governor to get up and make his speech verbally, as I said, it would be very much more illuminating, and I don't think there is anything more to be gained by sitting in conterence, as suggested by the Colonial Secretary, and it would be making a travesty of the debate if the whole thing were done in committee. With regard to the moorings, your Excel- lency misunderstood what I have said. I entirely favour the relaying of the moorings, but I object to the new system and am afraid of it. Your Excellency has for the first time told us what the price is to be per diem for the use of these moorings, and I think the charge is very high, far higher than 1 charge for the use of my moorings when I let them to my friends. My point is that if it is necessary to relay the corings I certainly think it is better to do so than to go to the vast expense of dredging the barbour, but let the shipping companies have their moor- ings in their present positions. Your Excellency speaks of relaying moorings once in four years.
Its EXCELLENCY-No, we are taking them by degrees, ten a year.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-Roughly speaking, there are 30 or 40 moorings, and the calculation is $10,000 a year to relay ten moorings. I would not attempt to leave my moorings down for four years. remove mine every two years.
I
HIS EXCELLENCY-The hon. member does not understand me. We cannot take up the whole forty and relay them all at once because there would be no buoys available. Hon. Mr. HEWETT-But you cannot dare to keep your moorings down for four years without relaying them.
HIS EXCELLENCY-1 will make a note of that.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-I remove mine every two years. Even then in that condition I have seen steamers break away from their moorings in a typhoon and go down the harbour. With regard to the question of the annual accounts rendered, I still think it would be of very great assistance if we could have a detail of the revised estimates put in the body of the accounts, because in many cases there is a large difference between the estimates and the orginal
revised estimates. Now, Sir, I beg to move the elimination from the account of the amount of $10,000 voted for the Harbour Master's Department.
HIS EXCELLENCY--You had better wait until we get into Committee to do that Hon. Mr. HEWETT Very good, Sir. The motion was then put to the meeting, and the Bill was read a second time.
Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT then moved the rejection of the vote of $10,000 for the Harbour Master's Department.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK seconded.
The motion was declared lost, but Hon.
Mr. Hewettt wished to divide.
A division was taken, and resulted as follows:-
For: Hon. Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Hon. Mr. Hewett, Hon. Mr. Pollock, Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk.
Against: The Captain Superintendent of Police, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, the Director of Public Works, tile Colonial Treasurer, the Attorney-General, the Colonial Secretary and the General Officer Commanding.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT then moved the post- ponement of the estimates for a fortnight. Hon. Mr. WEI YUK seconded, but the motion on being put to the meeting was lost, the unofficials being for and the officials against it.
On Council resuming,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL reported that the Bill had passed through Committe without amendment, and moved that it be read a third time and passed.
The COLONIAL TREASURER Seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and pass d.
H18 EXCELLENCY - Council adjourned sine die.
stands
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