CO129-525-3 Estimates 1931 and other financial papers 16-1-1930 - 1-9-1932 — Page 277

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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

LIQUORS ORDINANCE.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER.—This resolution imposes a duty on locally brewed beer at the rate of 60 cents per gallon, the same as the duty on imported beer, except that import duty is computed on the basis of the conventional dollar whereas this duty will be collected on a silver basis due regard being had to the gravity of the worts.

I, therefore, move:-

"In pursuance of the powers conferred by section 39 of the Liquor Ordinance, 1931, Ordinance No. 36 of 1931, as amended by the Liquors Amendment Ordinance, Ordinance No. 20 of 1932, the Legislative Council resolves that, notwithstanding anything contained in the Liquor Duties Resolution published by the Notification No. 354 in the Gazette of the 2nd June, 1932, the Liquor Duty to be paid on beer brewed or made in the Colony shall be assessed at 60 cents per gallon when the original gravity of the worts for such beer does not exceed 1055 degrees as measured by the 'Bates' standard saccharometer and at one additional cent per gallon for every degree in excess of an original gravity of 1055 degrees so measured."

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the resolution was agreed to.

RIDER MAIN SYSTEM.

HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK.-Sir, on behalf of the European Unofficial Members of this Council I beg leave to move an amendment to the Honourable Colonial Secretary's Motion for the abolition of the rider-main system, made at the last Meeting of this Council.

The amendment which I beg leave to propose runs as follows:-

That the principle of the abandonment of the rider-main system in this Colony be accepted, provided that the following conditions are complied with:-

1. That, in districts where the rider-mains have already been disconnected, those houses which are not at present supplied with meters be, at the earliest possible opportunity, (upon such application as hereafter in (3) referred to), and in priority to other houses, supplied therewith, and that the cost of installing such meters and the cost of connecting such houses with the mains be paid by the Government.

2. That the Government thereafter (upon such application as hereafter in (3) referred to), proceed to supply meters in rider-

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