CO129-525-3 Estimates 1931 and other financial papers 16-1-1930 - 1-9-1932 — Page 286

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

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installation of meters. That this object has to a large extent been fulfilled can be seen from the fact that while 831 meters were installed in the City of Victoria in 1906, the number went up to 5,329 in 1931; and there are now 2,100 applications awaiting attention.

It is most likely that the object would be completely attained in the course of the next two years, for there are now only 5,600 unmetered houses in the rider-main districts, and this number will be reduced to 3,500 after the wants of the 2,100 houses have been supplied.

As I have already pointed out, many more applications would have been made for meters but for the difficulties and delay experienced by the people in obtaining them in the past. By the gradual and natural process suggested by us the number of unmetered houses in the rider-main districts should, by the end of 1934, be so reduced that abolition would be attended with no difficulty.

To give effect to our request, I beg now to move the following amendment to the original resolution :-

"That in the opinion of this Council the time has come for the Colony to decide upon the abandonment, on the expiration of two years from this date, of the principle of the rider-main system, substituting therefor the principle of compulsory meterage to all house supplies to which the alternative shall be a free supply from street-fountains."

We have not forgotten that this amendment, if approved, would necessitate the restoration of the 2,600 disconnected houses to the rider-mains, and the removal of about 600 meters from these mains and connecting them to the principal mains, entailing some expense and trouble. But there is another side of the picture which should be kept more prominently before the public than it has been. It is that the rider-mains which were originally paid for by the people would, when the system is abolished, be utilised by the Government for the purpose of connecting meters to them.

Without these mains, the Government would have either to connect the meters to the principal mains, necessitating the cutting up of roads-a thing which the Government desires so much to Thus avoid or to construct new subsidiary mains for the purpose. the rider-mains originally laid at the expense of the people, would be the means of saving considerable expenditure to the public.

We therefore express the earnest hope that Your Excellency will accept our amendment, not only as the best and most reasonable compromise in the circumstance, but also as an act of equity demanded by the occasion and in harmony with the traditional policy of the Government to accord to all communities considerate- ness and justice. (Applause).

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