CO129-489 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Sir Clementi - 1925 [8-12] — Page 380

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vacancios have occurred and provision must bo medo for the salarios of officers, but it may be assumed that as a rosult of the policy of gradual rotrenchment tho ostimated amount

for 1926 will not all be spont.

Owing to the higher cost of Locomotive coal, it is nocossery to incroaso this voto proportionately. Similarly tho votos for Mator ials and Ropairs of Locomotivos and all Painting havo had to bo increased to moot a rise of 30% in contract prices. With the closing down of the Hongkong Booking Office for local traffic usos, station collection of tickets has boon instituted. In order to achieve this satisfactorily it is essential that tho stations should bo adequately fenced and a sum has boun inserted for this work. The galvanised roofing of the Workshops was corroded

The work of the and provision has been mado for renewal. motor department of the Vorkshops continuos to incr caso and a sum has boon inserted for Additional Machines. has boun insertod for providing concreto channels at cuttings. At prosont those channels are more excavations, providing

It is necessary to idoal places for mosquitos to broud. mako provision for the assembly and crcction in the Railway yards of the 6 Now Carriages, which are expected to arrivo at the end of this, or at the boginning of next year. A sum has boon inserted for a Now Motor Trolley to roplace the prosont ono, which is quite worn out.

Volunteer Defence Corps.

A sun

Thoro has boon a most satisfactory incroaso in the Corps, the strength of which has risen during the past two years from 280 to 670. Its usefulnoss was amply demonstrated during tho recent strike. With the advice of the Genoral Officer Command ing I havo insorted sums which aro considered to be the minimum necossary for kooping tho Corps up to its prosont state of officiency.