CO129-463 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [10-12] — Page 202

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trong trong Legislative Council.

18th November, 1920,

201

IB

THE ANNUAL BUDGET.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of the Bill Latitued An Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding fourteen mil- lion and eighty-four thousand six hundred and sixty-two dollars to the Public Service of the year 1921.

The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded.

HON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK. The Hon. Mr. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C., said: Sir,--As the Senior Unofficial Member on this Council, the duty devolves upon

me of offering some general observations 00 their behalf on the Budget for 1921. I shall also, at the end of such observations, add a few remarks of any own; and my colleagues will doubt- less desire also to express their own views some of the items comprised in the Estimates.

On

In the first place, we regret to find that, in two details, the present Draft Esti mates are deficient as compared with those for 1920, namely, first, in the absence of an Index of subject-matter at the end, and, secondly, in the leaving of blanks in regard to the higher Officers in the Chinese Secretariat on page 17 and in other Departments. We hope that these defects will be remedied in the Draft Estimates for 1922.

I will now proceed, on behalf of my colleagues and myself, to deal with the Budget, keeping, so far as possible, for purposes of convenience, to the order in which Your Excellency dealt with them.

As regards the loss on rice, we have hitherto received a preliminary report only, and we are strongly of opinion that a final report ought to have been laid on the table of this Council for information long ere this. We trust that this omission will be remedied as soon as possible. We also trust that this expensive experience will be borne in mind in future and we would ask that, under similar circum. stances in the future, expert advice and assistance will be employed by the Govern. ment from beginning to end.,

With regard to the fact that over one million dollars short of the Estimates for 1920 were spent upon Public Works Extra- ordinary, we are disposed to attribute a part of that shortage to inadequacy in numbers in the Public Works staff. We would also earnestly press upon Your Excellency's notice the absolute necessity for the promptest dealing with applications and plans which are sent in to the Public Works Department in regard to new build. ings or alterations to buildings, seeing that delay in such matters not only retards development and progress, but entails the tying up of capital.

As regards the proposed increase of Stamp Duties, we trust that ample notice of the details of the proposed measures will be given to the public before it is attempted to pass such measures into law, and that any projected increase of Court fees and fees for Registration of Deeda will be referred to the Law Society for its views.

The Hon. Mr. Parr, with whose remarks we are in accord, will address the Council on the subject of the proposed increases in the fees for use of Government. Buoys and for tho medical examination of emigrants.

As regards Hawkers' licences, and the proposal to charge for excess water in the Rider Mains' districts, the Senior Chinese inmember has some observations to make with which we are in agreement.