CO129-541-2 Estimates 1931 14-10-1932 - 19-7-1934 — Page 210

Enclosure No.4.

The Daily Press.

HONG KONG, OCTOBER 7, 1932.

THE BUDGET DEBATE

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doubtful whether aviation had made any real emergence from the ex- perimental stage. It looked as if years, if not decades, might pass before flying became either a safe a commercial proposition. Though this great branch of trans- port is still in the early stages of development, every sign points to the beginning of an aviation age, as revolutionary as the coming of steam transport by land and sea. There are historic cities and ports that fell behind because they spurned the iron roadway and the steamship, being content with the more picturesque coaches and sail- ing vessels. The Government's reply emphasized the difficulties. These are not light. The Colonial Secretary's reply to the points raised by Mr. SHENTON, Mr. BELL and Mr. BRAGA, if not revealing any great ardour for aviation, showed that the Government is fully aware of the issues and sees practical difficulties not apparent to the enthusiast. Emphasis was laid on the responsibility of the Home Authorities and the small part that the local Government can take in the construction and management of big aviation routes.

A pleasing feature in the debate was the stress laid on the need

THIS year's Budget has met with a favourable reception by the Un- official members of the Legislative Council. The Government's policy has been, in a word, Caution," practically interpreted by maintain- ing a $10,000,000 reserve and by extreme care in pushing on with public works involving heavy ex- This is to be accom- penditure. plished without further taxation for the extension of welfare work and so remarkable an achievement among children in the Colony. A tempers the sharp wind of criticism. wise humanitarianism is taking root in the Colony and public con- When no fresh duties are proposed science is being roused to the prob members of the Council seem to lems of disease, overcrowding and realise more clearly that it is im- the many ills of poverty among the great mass of working people living possible in one sentence to demand in Hong Kong. These things have little later to been taken for granted. In the ¡ economy

clamour for this and that enter-past neither the Government nor the wealthier communities have con- sidered the conditions of the labour- ing class, beyond seeing that law and order and some degree of hygiene were maintained.

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prise, innovation and development, unless they can put their fingers on needless extravagance.

Mr. W. E. L. SHENTON expressed the general view when he warned the Council, and the Colony, that there is no solid reason for assum-

comprehensive review of the needs of the Peninsula. Dr. S. W. Tso advanced the claims of the New Territories about which not a great deal is often heard during a Budget debate.

Mr. BRAGA, as usual, spoke eloquently for Kowloon. Though it ing that the economic depression is is obvious that many of the im- passing. There are quite as good provements that were urged must of necessity be held over till the reasons for thinking that the worst has yet to be faced and the Govern- definite turn of the world economic ment would be taking an unjusti-tide, good service was done by this fiable risk if its estimates and its expenditure were based on a con- fident expectation of improvement. On the other hand, efficiency must be maintained. A city or a country goes either forward or backward, even if, on the surface, there are periods of quiescence, of waiting for the opportune moment for ad- vance. Two matters, however, that do not brook delay are the Shing Mun Valley Scheme and the deve lopment of aviation facilities. The Government has given that there will be no hesitation in asking the Council for the substan- tial sums that will be needed for the completion of the new reservoir. The Shing Mun Scheme is a matter on which there is no second opinion and all are agreed that the work must be completed with the least possible delay and here no question of economy is possible. There was a truce to all past disagreements but a plain indication of the Un- officials' opinion on the necessity for a strong hand should further delays and difficulties arise in the future.

assurance

The other pressing need is for the development of aviation facilities. Until about three years ago it was

While a ship is battened down, beating up against the storm with few stitches of canvas closely reef- ed, there is less scope for criticism of her officers than during easy days when the vessel is running free with a following wind. When all is prosperous and peaceful in Hong Kong the increase of a salary, the building of an official residence, or a few additions to a departmental staff are matters for acrimonious discussion, while the laying out of a new road may become the cause

for astounding allegations. Storms are extremely unpleasant, but at least they have the power of drawing out the best in those who weather them. future times when the dollar is normal and trade booming, contro- versy may become acid and even personal, and people may look back upon this as the Golden Age when, so it seemed,

"None were for a Party "But all were for the State."

In

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