CO129-519-1 Estimates for 1930 5-9-1929 - 14-11-1929 — Page 91

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

gives you á fotal of $38,820 per annum, against the item of $28,- 1250 for miscellaneous services pro- vided for next year for the whole cost of printing by the Govern- ment outside the gaol. Therefore there is a deficit against the scheme of over $7,000. On the score of economy I think the figures prove against the Govern- ment's case.

[$25,000 a year by doing printing work in the gaol, and if we extend' the accommodation for him, think we shall be able to save a great deal more than that, with the probability of saving more than the cost of this building long before the time comes to give up the building and go into new pre- 'mises. Moreover, part of the expenditure is for machinery which would not be wasted even if we had to move.

Machinery Required.

"

So much for the principle of the thing. Coming to the details, Jeven supposing the Unofficial members are not prepared to ac- cept the Government's view of the matter, I have it from the Acting Superintendent of Prisons that these two machines, a linotype composing machine, $14,200 and a Rota Print machine $6,550, are re- quired for the current

work of printing in the gaol regardlessi of whether we get a new building or not, and that he will find room for them even if he does not get the new building.

H.E. the Governor. Apparently. the first figure for staff should not, be $18,820 but $17,820, and of that charge part is already in the Es- timates. Only three Warders are additions in connexion with this

scheme.

Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga.-It is not shown separately what would be the full salaries of the three ward- ers. As a set off I would submit. for your consideration the very heavy cost of paper and book- material, which the binding Council has no means of ascer-

taining from the Estimates before us. If that is included it will be seen that the total is even higher than that estimated, even assum- salaries of three ing that the warders instead of six would be charged to the printing vote pro-

per.

H.E. the Governor.-We already have to-day a Gaol printery for which considerable sums are in- cluded in the Estimates. The

I would ask members not to hamper the printing work of the gaol by refusing these two items. With regard to the omission of $17,820 for staff, I would like to remind hon. members that part of the staff consists of transfers from the Warders staff and only three of the men represent actual addi-proposal now is that the printery should be enlarged so that even tions to the staff for the printing`

more Government work can be branch.

done there.

Hon. Sir Henry Pollock. Then the marginal note is wrong. They' are new posts.

Cost of Paper.

The Colonial Secretary. They Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga-The cost are new posts because they have of paper would have to be paid new names, but they are not addi-out of some vote or another to tional posts.

make up for the printing contract- Hon. Sir Henry Pollock.-How ed outside. many of these are new?

Mathematics.

H.E. the Governor.-I can only The Colonial Secretary.--The say the matter has been gone into amount of new money to be taken very carefully by the Superinten- out is $7,380. I would ask the dent of Prisons who came Council to remember the Govern- to the conclusion that this ment's point of view, that we do scheme would result in not want to keep the gaol any economy. This is not a vote I longer than you do, and we only shall press against the considered put this in because we felt it is opinion of the Unofficial members really in the interests of the of this Council. Like the Hon. Colony from the point of view of Colonial Secretary, I hold out no economy.

hope to the Council that the new gaol will be speedily built. The cost of building a new Govern- Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga.—I justment Civil Hospital will be some- want to say a few words on the thing like $5,000,000 and the point of economy raised by the cost of a new gaol will be about Hon. Colonial Secretary. The $5,000,000, a sum of $10,000,000, total staff provided is $18,820, altogether, and inasmuch as we then five per cent depreciation on shall have to face additional ex- the cost of machinery $1,000; in- penditure-$10,000,000 for water- terest at six per

the works, for instance-I do not capital expenditure of $100,000,,suppose we shall be able to find $6,000; Divide $100,000, the cost the

necessary for re of the building by ten-the period, construction of the gaol in the of ten years

the Hon. Colonial immediate future. In the opinion, Secretary stated we should be in jof the Government the project. the possession of a new gaol for rebuilding the Government Civil Hospital will have priority,

cent

on

money

therefore I do not think we are wrong in assuming it will be something like ten years before we have a new gaol.

Unofficials Confer.

Hon. Sir Henry Pollock.-I should like to confer with my Unofficial colleagues on what you have just said. There is an alternative proposal made by the Government that we should accept the printing machines and a less vote for the offices.

The Colonial Secretary-In that connexion I should like tu say that I am told by the Superintendent of the Gaol that a linotype machine will save the work of about 20 compositors.

The Unofficial members having conferred together, Hon. Sir Henry Pollock said.-As the re- sult of the conference we are prepared to accept the vote so far as it relates to the linotype and Rota Print machines. We think the number of officers should be kept as at present. The new posts should not be inserted in the Estimates. Another point is the question whether the material used for printing paper is of too good a quality as used in the gaol and whether some economy can be effected.

H. E. The Governor.-I gather you are definitely of opinion that the printery should not be ex- tended.

Hon. Sir Henry Pollock.-We shall be against the printing shop.

The Colonial Secretary.-Are you against even the modified printery scheme?

Hon. Sir Henry Pollock. We are against any change whatever. The Colonial Secretary.-It was passed last year.

Hon. Sir Henry Pollock.-We are against any enlargement.

Machines Approved.

H. E. The Governor.-I would } suggest that no change be made in the printing Estimates but that again the Government will; give an undertaking to incur no i expenditure for increasing the printery without prior reference to the Legislative Council. understand that the view of the Unofficial members is that the i large scheme should not be un- dertaken. Apparently the Un- official members are not al- together clear in their minds whether the original scheme, involving an expenditure of $40,- 000, should stand. That we will

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