ject.
Council
The Government, in letter recently as yesterday, pointed out to the Chamber of Commerce that in their opinion the remedy li in the hands of the persons concerned. There is considerable laxity in the matter, of the supervision of the cargo and goede carried about the harbour. For example, goode lie all night in junks and lighter without any supervision and then the owner express Burprise when un arrival in America it is discovered that bricks have been, substituted for tin. Coal is weighed from ship to lighter, but not from lighter to godown. Some owners pay their launch oxswains a fixed sum for running expenses which is a direct inducement for the theft of coal stores. There was a recent case where a ship employed a number of coolies and quite by accident a large gang of cargo broachers were discovered at work broach- ing cargo in the middle of the day. I think that it shippers and employers of labour eo-operated more in providing proper super- V18,on, the task of the Police would be con. siderably lightened, and their services would be rendered more effective. I believe I right in saying that in Singapore the
a
rauk and file of the European police are something under 40; here it is 180; and I think in Ceylon the European forea for the whole island is about twenty- three.
In regard to the prison at Laichikok, a large sum for temporary staff was recently voted by the Council and I think the numbers are quite ample to cope with the present situation. The hon, member referred to the possible intro- duction of the chain gang. This is hardly the intention of the Government. The pro posal is to use some prisoners to cover over the refuse dumps at Laichikok and the hon.. member may rest assured that ade- quate steps will be taken to see that the prisoners are properly guarded. He also drew attention to the question of a separate heading for the Police and Prison depart mouts in the estimates. This is the inten- tion, and the printers have been instructed to change the heading and insert the prison as a separate department. It will be seen that the title of Assistant Superintendent, Victoria Gaol has been alt red to that of Superintendent of Prison
I
also may
Buy
it ie the intention with regard new gaol at Ngayshiwan tuut To should be the moje gadi, daceptior a few cells in the neigh- bourhood of the Police Court. The acreage is something over fifteen acres for the gaol and Police school, as compared with the arau of 1.7 acres on the present site. It
that
the
to
ie proposed to employ prisoners in quarry- ing stone lying on the northern boundary of the now sute whereby more ground will be added.
I will now refer to the question of Educa- tion; to the inadequacy of the European staff and of schools for teaching English as mentioned by the senior Chinese member and the member representing the Chamber of Commerce. I think that, as regard staff, the effect of the war is still felt. Men were taken out of training for five year and there is a great shortage at home where they can command almost any price they like. Our system of advertising at home is hardly good enougha I think. The sterling salary merely is quoted, without reference to the fact that exchange is allowed at 2/- and under, and no mention is made of cheap house rent and free pass- age. Mr. Tanner, the Headmaster of Queen's College, who has gune home on leave, has been asked to arrange on the spot that candidates may clearly understand what the position is.
The Hon. Mr. HOLYDAK said that he thought that all women teachers should
have free quarters.
of
The COLONIAL SECRETARY: The work is in Progress and A lage sum money had been provided. On the question of vernacular education I think I may say that the Government is fully in sympahy with the views expressed, and they owe much to the efforts of Mr. Lau Chu-pak to whom is due the progres sive policy of the Confucian Society's schools. The Government vote is not a very large oile a vote of $10,000 this year. This question is very largely affected by a lack of vernacular teachers. We are trying to remedy that by training men at the University. With regard to technical education, the Government has largely increased the grant, recognising that the higher classes are more expensive and requiro more efficient teaching. I am not sure of the exact figure, but I think the grant for the top class has been raised from 24 to $50, that of the intermediate class from $20 to $30, and of the lower class from €15 to 820. The hon. member for the Chamber of Commerce referred to the grant to Holy Trinity College, Canton. Not only is there a vote of $50,000 for this year, but
• sum of $50,000 has recently been paid, In order to encourage the College to assist itself, it has bexu made a con- dition of the grant that the College must raise an equal sum. They have already got their first $50,000 to which the Gov- ernment has added $50,000 and they will no doubt be in 2 position shortly to get the remaining Buan; I am glad the hon. member recognizes the fact that we cannot carry the whole burden ourselves. The next point raised is in re gard to the allocation of building grants. The promised allocation to St. Joseph's is $40,000; to Holy Trinity, Canton, $50,000; and to St. Mary's, Kowloon, $20,000, (not definitely promised). For Fairlie and St. Stephen's Girls School, to be located in West End Park, we have a total obligation of something like $12,000 speaking from memory.
ย
With regard to the Queen's Statue Wharf, it is the intention of the Government to build 2 Large wharf with ample accommodation for launches. It has been proposed that there should be a long pier. In addition to the fact that is will cost $150,000, it is possible that projecting pier will block up the area now used by small launches and yachts in the vicinity. The wharf will be so constructed that its can stand as the base of a project- ing pier, and it will be entirely in keeping with the dignity of the surroundings. Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice will be consulted on the matter. With regard to the water boat basin at Laichikok, when arrange ments were made for leasing land in the vicinity an additional sum of 5 cents per Foot was charged in order to ensure that the leasses should bear their share of the cost. The Government has to provide a considerable sum because it has to train a stream which alone costs about $180,000.
The hon. member referred to variou point in connection with the housing ques tion. The Government has become very much more strict in the matter of penaltie recently. In the first place, after the first lapse, treble or quadruple rates are put on and then a more substantial fine in addition and finally there is re-entry. We have re-entered in one or two cases recently. The question of the allocation of $300,00 with security has been answered in the
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