17
Hospital with an annual donation of 300, but in view of the excellent and ever-increasing work carried out by that Institution. I would recommend that not less than $1,000 per annum be voted in future.
In these times of unexampled commer- cial difficulties I congratulate the Govern- ment on being able to lay so satisfactory a Budget before the Council, covering, as it does, so many works and so much progressive development for the future good of the Colony. At the same time I cannot refrain from remarking that the degree of taxation is much heavier than in the past, and I venture to repeat the warning already submitted by the Cham- ber of Commerce that a halt should be called in the levy of increased taxation.
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
MOST OF THE PROGRAMME WILL
BE COMPLETED.
407
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS said: There have been so many questions put this afternoon that I must ask hon. members to excuse me if I am not able to deal with them as fully and com- pletely as I should like. Reference has been made to the very heavy programme of the P.W.D., and it has been said that we shall not be able to carry it out, that a good deal will be left over. I think that is likely to prove a very fallacious idea. This year, nearly every work that is shown in the budget is more or less in course of materialisation, and I do not think the hon. and learned member will have to complain next year that we are not asking for enough money, The tramway to Wanchai Gap may be extremely desirable and it has been pointed out that before the Peak tramway was opened only twelve sites on the Peak upon on the Peak and six at Magazine Gap were occupied. There are none at Wanchai Gap, neither will the tramway open up a single site along this road. This scheme may very well stand over for a year or two more. The road from No. 7 Police Station to the Gas Works, which has been referred to would hardly come under the head of "Public Works Recurrent.' A scheme was evol- ved two years ago, but it awaits develop- ment of the land on one side of the road. To do anything before then would be too expensive. As to to the Victoria Hospital Maternity Block, the amount, $135,000, should not have been in the original estimate; it was intended to cover only that year's expenditure. The expenditure this year is $286,000, of which the Maternity Block represents $177,000. It is also proposed to remodel the hospital and staff quarters, which has not yet been commenced.
The traffic road from Wanchai Gap to Magazine Gap was put down at $20,000 and was corrected in last year to $76,000. I do not know why the $20,000 was in- serted. It does not approach the prob-
able cost. There is a thousand feet of retaining wall with an average height of 15ft. and a maximum of 35ft. so that the estimates of $76,000 which appears in this year's estimates is not an unduly high figure. The amount put in the estimates for Queen's Statue Wharf was $96,000. This is the amount which it is anticipated wil be spent this year; it does not include anything for the super- structure. The Government has pro- ceeded with the piling while the drawings for the superstructure are being prepar- ed. As to the Praya East reclamation scheme. the contractor has ordered Decauville wagons and rails and the requisite length and weight of rails for locomotives. Tenders for locomotive
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