82
TREASURER'S REPLY.
Discrepancy in Defence Contribution Accounts.
KOWLOON TONG PREMIA.
The Hon. Colonial Treasurer said:
Sir, I propose to deal with the observations made by Hon. Un- official Members on various Financial items in the Budget. I shall take the items in the order in which the observations were made.
The Hon. Senior Unofficial Mem- ber remarked on the apparent dis- crepancy in the Military Contribu- tion figures shewn on pages 12 and 100 of the Estimates.
The large discrepancy between the revised 1929 estimate and the approved estimate is due to the re- covery during the current year of a sum of $592,711 from the Military Authorities on account of an over- payment of Military Contribution made in 1917/1919.
Instructions from the Secretary of State to make this recovery were received early in the present year. The sum of $3,321,768 is what we expect to pay for Military Con- tribution in 1929.
It is customary to show revised estimates in the Abstract on page 12 only, and to insert the original unrevised figures in the body of the Estimates.
Military Contribution hitherto been paid on any profits has which may accrue as the result of appreciation in the sterling price of investments which we realise. We have not so far paid Military Contribution on any profits due to exchange, as this question is under discussion with State.
the Secretary of
Kowloon Tong.
The Hon. Senior Unofficial Mem- ber has asked for information re- garding the amount of the arrears of premia due from the Kowloon Tong Estate and the Praya East Marine Lot Holders.
The position as regards Kowloon Tong Estate is as follows:
The total premium originally stipulated was $421.977, of which $126,856.37 has been paid to Gov- ernment. It is expected that the balance $295,120.63 will be received when the houses are completed and the Crown leases issued.
With regard to the Praya East Reclamation Scheme there is still a sum of $143,219.50 due to the Government from Marine Lot Holders by way of premia.
Chair Licences.
The item on page 6 of the Esti
}
mates "Carriage, Chair, etc., Licences" will be subdivided in 1 future Estimates as the Hon. Senior Unofficial Member suggests, and Motor Licences will be shewn separately. For the Hon. Member's information, I may add that the figure of $230,000 in next year's Estimates is made up of
Rickshaw and Chair
Licences
Truck Licences
$95,000 20,000
Motor Vehicle Licences 115,000 Member remarked
The Hon. Senior Unofficial "Message Fees" on page 9.
on the item
less message fees together with a "Message Fees" signify wire- small amount collected for advices of vessels from lighthouses.
: on
The Estimate for 1930 was based
January/May 1929. This period the receipts for the period
showed a considerable set-back in traffic for the Philippine Islands and the United States as compared with the same period in 1928, when the Estimate for 1929 was pre- pared. This set-back will probably be compensated to a considerable extent by increased traffic with China stations, viz. Canton and also Shanghai which started operations from 1st July last. But there were not sufficient grounds for anticipat- ing a greater revenue in 1930 than that shown in the draft Estimate, viz., $160,000.
Tobacco Duties. With regard to the remarks of the Senior Chinese Unofficial Mem- ber on
Tobacco the subject of Duties, it is estimated that half the anticipated increase under that head in the 1930 Estimates will be due to the more efficient method of col- lection rendered possible by the Tobacco Amendment Ordinance of 1929, and the remainder will accrue from normal increase of consump tion. Such estimated increase, being only 10% in excess of the 1924 collection, cannot be regarded as unduly optimistic.
The previous system of taxing tobacco on an "ad valorem" scale was found unsatisfactory and after due consideration superseded; and
a
uniform rate imposed in ac- cordance with home practice. The Imports and Exports Department will welcome any suggestions that the Chinese Chamber of Commerce may put forward for combatting smuggling, but the Government is satisfied that the new system of duties works satisfactorily.
Widows' & Orphans' Pensions. The Hon. Mr. W. E. L. Shenton called attention to the position under the Widows' and Orphans' Pension Scheme.
On the 1st January, 1909, the Government under authority of Ordinance No. 15 of 1908 took over the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions;
}
:
4
Fund at $371,500, which sum was! credited to the General Revenue of the Colony. Since then all contri- butions have been credited to Re- venue, and pensions to the widows and orphans of contributors are guaranteed by their being a charge on the Revenues of the Colony in accordance with the provisions of the Ordinance.
The fund referred to by the Hon. Member ceased in 1908 when Ordinance No. 15 of 1908 came into force.
It is the practice in many Bri- tish Crown Colonies, including the Straits Settlements, Malaya and Ceylon, to embody Widows and Orphans' contributions and the pay- :ment of pensions under the scheme } in the general finances of the
Colony. (Applause.)
1
THE FORWARD POLICY.
Colonial Secretary Replies to Other Criticisms.
DISAPPOINTMENT SHARED.
The Hon. Colonial Secretary said:
My hon. friends the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services, the Harbour Master, the Attorney General and the Treasurer have dealt fully with certain aspects of the remarks of the Unofficial Members which particularly affect their departments. You, Sir, will I understand deal with some of the more important subjects under discussion and it remains for me to answer those criticisms which will not have been covered by other speakers. In the first place Sir I should like to thank my un- official colleagues for their very carefully reasoned criticism of the Budget and I think the im- pression left on the mind of any one who listened to their speeches was that the principles of the Budget are accepted and that only the details are subjected to seri- ous criticism. It seems to me that the forward policy of services is not in any way condemned for the encouragement of aviation, the re- establishment of the Statistical Department and the forward move in matters of Health and Sanita- tion have all met with the ap- proval of my Hon. friends on the unofficial side. Their chief com- i plaint. or so it seems to me, is that? the Government has not at the same time been able to undertake some of the pressing needs of the roads, recreation grounds, and Colony in the way of buildings.
other material works.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.