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to the number of nine, and over the new able for the erection of dwellings, but Magistracy for married Police Officers the method now proposed has been con to the number of two, have been provided.sidered one of the simplest and best. The hon. member suggested that all land mat Prior to 1814 there were some thir.
ters should be dealt with by the Land teen houses available for the subordi nate staff and with the figures I have Office. That is a question that has been mentioned, the total is 68. During the very carefully considered before and, hav ing regard to the fact that very little can current year ten more quarters have been
be done in the way of disposing of land added and Four quarters have been
without formulating schemes for laying made available in the old Berlin Mission
out the area, making roads on proper building, making a total of fourteen. In levels, and making provision for water aud next year's estimates provision has been drainage, it has been decided that it is made for 44 quarters, so that, taking the
a matter which can be more effectively total of these figures. wa Bee that 126
dealt with in this Colony by the Public houses have been provided by the Govern-
Works Department. The hon. member en ment for its staff, the majority of them quired why better progress had not been ma during recent years. I presume that with the reconstruction of various piens hon, members do not intend to suggest There again, sir, it is a question of an that the Government should undertake
insufficient staff. To enable us to under- the task of making provision for the
take any of this work, extensive boring. housing of the general public. Turning had to be taken to ascertain the length to the remarks of the hon. member who
of piles necessary and, in order to erect represente the Justices, he referred to the substantial piers which shall serve their omission to submit the programme of
purpose for many years, it is intended to public works to the Public Works Com-
use re-inforced concrete piles. These have mittee. I would point out that the pro-
to be made, each one separately, and na- gramme comes before the whole of this turally this is a matter which takes con- founcil and I can see but little advantage siderable time, especially when you are in referring it to the Public Works Coin-
dealing with piles of 60 and 70 feet in inittee. If.
Your Excellency length. The hon. member asked that some however, directs that it shall be submitted the mat- indication might be given of the measures ter will be attended to in future years.
for overcoming the shortness of water The programme can only be submitted supply in the Kowloon Peninsula. The by direction of Your Excellency. The hon. principal item consists of laying a main member mentioned the Praya East Re- 18 inches in diameter from the filter beds clamation scheme for which he said no
to the main point where the arterial provision had been made in the Estimates. system of distribution begins. That main That matter has still to go before the will be more than twice the capacity of lot owners and to be agreed to by them the existing main and there should there Terms have to be settled fore be a very substantial improvement in generally. which the Government proposes to lay the supply of water obtained. From the before them and when that has been done
point where that main ceases there will provision will be made for the reclamation
be other enlarged mains in various direc scheme I may point out that in past
tions. The hon. member referred also to years Government has expended a con- the release of military lands in Lugard siderable sum of money in connection Road. That is a matter which perhaps with works undertaken in anticipation scarcely falls within my province, but I of carrying out the reclamation scheme have little doubt that it will be possible and that money may be accepted as the to come to some satisfactory arrangement Government's contribution toward the with regard to it with the military Cost of carrying on the work, should it
authorities, since the Pinewood Battery be undertaken during 1920. I have point has been practically abandoned as a ed out that the housing question has not Battery. The hon. member who repre- been altogether ommitted the hon.
sents the Chamber of Commerce. suggest member stated. He mentioned that the ed that the Government might save very provision of $150,000 for the tramway to considerable sums by dispensing with the Wanchai Gap and certain other items services of contractors. would not go one inch towards the solu- that I would point out that a good many tion of the housing question. That is a years ago the London County Council matter on which opinions MAY Vary.
established a very full and completa There may be some better method of pro- Works Department. It was under the viding access to sites which would be suit-control of an Officer who received very
With regard to
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THE GENERAL OFFICER COMMAND- much higher emoluments than the Direc-
ItING THE TROOPS --In reply to the remarks tor of Public Works in this Colony, employed a staff and plant and every-made about the Defence Corps, it will to re- thing that could be required. After run collected that the present Ordinance ning for a considerable number of rears expires Bix months after the declaration the conclusion arrived at was that the of peace With regard to the work re- quired, all that the men over 40 are now carrying out of the works of the City of asked to do is a simple course in musketry. London by this department was a failuro These number about 250, and, on arrival of and the Department was closed down. the regular battalion that is expected in That experience has not been confined to about one month's time. I will consider the City of London alone, Sir, but has what further steps can be taken.
As taken place in other places as well. far as the proposal that smaller con- tractors may be assisted by awarding them larger works when they have shown them selves capable of doing work properly is con- cerned, that policy has been pursued during all the time that I have been at the head of the Department. The hon. member referred to the publication of development plans raised rents on account of the increase of Kowloon and suggested the showing of in the assessed taxes. building lots and other details to enable fixed under the Rating Ordinance, being prople to take up land. Well, Sir, if a certain percentage of the rateable value. Kowloon was one of those districts where which value was calculated on the rent the land is all of ordinary type it would that might reasonably be obtained from that There were some cases where be a very simple matter. Where the land property.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-The bon. senior unofficial member mentioned three points in regard to assessment taxes. The people pay first point was that some bigger taxes in proportion to the rent, another was the increase in assessment taxes and a third that some landlords had
These taxes were
wad
is comparatively flat development plans! leases were still in force and there were are in existence, but when you come to some cases where the landlord did not deal with the rough and uneven hills of charge as much rent as he might and which practically all Kowloon consists Perhaps the Assessor had assessed the Under the Ordinance the task of preparing plans which would property at a greater rental than be of use is one which would require a actually paid. large staff to undertake. The hon. mem-twenty-one days' notice was given of any her referred also to the possibility of increased assessment during which claims for abatement might be made. So far af establishing over-head railless trams to
I am aware, there have been very few. bring people to the ferries. For that you
With regard to the increase of assessment must prepare your roads to carry your trams. It would be useless to establish taxes, there are a considerable nutaber of new houses and, as every one is well aware, such trams without such preparations as
rents are going up. The increased assers- they would result simply in breaking up the roads and rendering them unfit either ment only worked out at slightly over for the trams themselves or other traffic. One half per cent. on the rateable value. To enable that to be done a very large If rents had been increased only by one expenditure must be faced and it is very half per cent. there would have not been questionable whether the general lay-out much discussion on the housing ques- tion. With regard to money changer's of Kowloon does not lend itself better to
licenses and the export of coins. the con- trame with rails. The hon. member sug- gested filling in swampy areas in Kowditions have improved and the question loon, but if he refers to the estimates I may now be reconsidered. think he will find such provision haa THE COLONIAL SECRETARY - I wish to already been inade. Item 56 provides thank the senior unofficial member and $30,000 and item 57 provides 330,000 for the member who represents the Chamber these purposes. This work it is proposed of Commerce, on behalf of Sir Henry to carry out, or to commence, during the May for the kind remarks they made Coming year. With regard to the re- concerning him, and also on my own moval of Chinese latrines on Nathan behalf for the kind reference to the time Road. one is due to be removed immedi- during which I have administered the ately and the removal of the other-1 Colony. In that connection I would say think there are only two-will be doubt-that if it had not been for the very loyal less considered later. I think that these support I had from my colleagues and are the only points mentioned which especially from Mr. Fletcher. who require any reply from me.
acting as Colonial Secretary, I do not
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