Enclosure No.5.
233
The Morning Post
KAR.
No. 7,984.
Friday, October 7, 1932.
The Budget Debate.
The tired taxpayer scanning to- day's pages may cast a cynical eye upon the lengthy report of the Legislative Council debate and perhaps dismiss it as "same old thing year after year." It is his civic duty, however, to interest himself in public affairs and he owes it to his representa- tives to read what they have said in his behalf. Budget de- bates, from the very nature of their material, give an impres- sion of municipal pettiness, but beneath their detailed analysis lies evidence of the Unofficials' vigilance and care. Obviously their utterances are considered and responsible; the whole ground of local life. and ad- ministration is covered, and, though they be criticised for sundry omissions or seeming distortions, the members again earn the community's thanks. The official adjective "colour less," applied with a modest dif- fidence to the Budget, has been seized upon by all commentators as an accurate description.
Nevertheless, the debate was undoubtedly interesting and the speakers may fairly be con- gratulated for the variety and timeliness of their submissions, though, of course these are but advisory and perhaps farcical- depending upon the official re- ception.
The Hon, Sir Henry Pollock's speech raised several important His points, some of them new. reminder to Government of the necessity for maintaining the harbour in efficient condition is justified. In the
press of more intriguing matters the Colony's principal asset is too easily forgotten. The wonder- ful development schemes of 1924 definitely seem to have been buried, and even dredging is neglected. The Government de- Hends itself discreetly and inadequately. On the same sub- ject Hon. Mr. W. H. Bell's plea for relief of shipping from the light dues impost will also find a ready echo. The Government desire to preserve a balance and not increase unduly the tax burden
the on
wage-earner is commendable. At the same time, the Government has.
• not kent faith in this mat- ter. The shipping companies are popularly regarded as ways wealthy and 28
al-
in-
IG POST.
FRIDAY,
OCTOBER 7,
1932.
exhaustible mines of money for of other taxation. He was wise out widening, as at Stanley taxation and other purposes. in refraining, for any such ges- and elsewhere. The recent ac-1 Only those engaged in the trade ture would inevitably produce cident at Kowloon bears out realise how terrifically heavy an unseemly scramble for the our criticisms. shipping expenses are, and Mr. benefit. If the allegory is not
Shewan's Cheapness and Con- offensive, sleeping dogs might Hon. Mr. Tso pleaded for
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venience slogan of a few years well be allowed to lie, in the more generous treatment of pri- ago must still be the watch-certainty that they will awaken vate elementary schools, which word if the Colony is to safe- quickly enough when a deficit perform splendid service and guard its position. However, threatens.
relieve the Government of much Hon. Mr. Bell offered no alter-
expense in educating poor Hon. Mr. Shenton's remarks children. The plea merits sup- native to shipping taxation. We have still to hear debated upon the call to the
Colony's port. In fact, as we have: he suggestion that taxes on spirit of enterprise in connection claimed in the past, the Gov- shipping should be replaced by with air services is in accord ernment's subsidies might well harbour dues on goods.
with the community's mood." be confined to primary education, Time is passing and nothing assistance to secondary schools other opportune representation ing, however, to learn that the Hon. Mr. T. N. Chau and other Sir Henry Pollock made an- appears. It is somewhat alarm- being conveyed by scholarships. when he drew attention to the Kai Tack hangar is already too speakers asked for greater as- interest burden of the 6% small. It seems that by the sistance for the Society for the Public Works Loan. Conver- time an air service is launched Protection of Children-a cause sions are the economic fashion the accommodation provided for that should be dear to all hearts. of the day and there is no rea- it will be hopelessly out-of-date It seems necessary again, how- son why Hongkong, with its and inadequate. The Govern- lever, to voice the warning that chronic surplus of money, ment, to its credit, is the Society must not become should not participate in this wider awake than had been merely another charitable wise economy movement. Sir thought. It would also seem ganisation. Primarily its work| Henry was also happy in the that suggestion that
another request for should be educative and correc-i of aid must be made to the In- tive. That charity is necessary public works from which the perial Government or to British there can be no question, but it Budget is compiled should be aircraft manufacturers. The should form a separate under- made available, so as to give the Colony cannot alone finance the taking or at least be kept with- massacred innocents 2 little introduction of British aircraft in its due proportion. publicity at least. It seems to the Far East, and the aero-
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the list
or-
The ab-
necessary to add, however, that drome and the list should not only be given qualify for British aid just as requires apology, the explantion the Flying Club If the length of this comment to the Unofficials but should be the University also qualifies. is that, this Budget being published. The Unofficials are The Unofficial plea for the ap- without contentious feature of already the repositories of much 'pointment of specialists to im- great gravity, we have thought information which is withheld portant posts requiring technical fit to accompany our politicians from the taxpayer. Some of knowledge also wins public sup to the parish pump, this information is confidential, port-especially in regard to sence of obsession has enabled but much of it belongs to the Education, the Sanitary De- a general stocktaking: For the public and is apparently not partment and the Police. The same reason, criticism of Un- divulged because of the lack of official reply that such a plan official stewardship is less cri- machinery for communication. would be expensive or incon- tical than in other years. What provide such machinery: mean- lightly. A Taxpayers' Association would venient is not to be dismissed reproof seems called for is of Nevertheless, preced the mildest. One point of com- while perhaps it is necessary to ent has been established: the plaint is that some of the call attention to the existence police, for instance, are able to speeches were over-long, with of the newspapers. Sir Henry arrange their reliefs without over-much repetition and dup- also did well to re-emphasise calling upon other departments, lication.
Also, some of the the unwisdom of reserving a and the exigencies of the Cadet subjects aired were beyond the central area of Kowloon for
a system cannot be permitted in- scope of Government. In this cemetery. Happy Valley is now definitely to check
was progress. respect Mr. Braga
the Mr. coming under the eye of settle- Hon.
Shenton's
His re- refer-principal offender. ment pioneers and in the near ence to the
and Government ferences to midget taxis
schemes the share future there will be an increas- House and City Hall
market were most ing demand for the removal of were also apt. When the new public-spirited and doubtless the island cemeteries. The errors Government House is built
on called for; but it is difficult to fit committed on the island should the Peak it will permit some them into the Budget. How- not be repeated at Kowloon, and saving but will be inconvenient ever, they have rounded out the provision of cemeteries is tradi- for public functions. The idea debate and put public ideas on tionally a problem calling for, of using the new City Hall, if record. very long views. The Govern- any, for such functions is a1 ment gives evidence of appre- good one.
claim We
Mr. ciating this.
Shenton as an ally in our campaign for a City Hall worthy The Unofficial anxiety regard- of the Colony, as a civic centre. ing the Shing Mun work, ex- pressed by Sir Henry Pollock, In addition to his other com- is in accord with public senti- 'ments already mentioned, Hon. Lment. The unive} matovana sir. Bell touched upon local plan seems now to have been broadcasting and repeated a accepted by the community. suggestion made frequently— There was no reference to it in that the old transmitter be em- the debate. It may therefore be ployed so 28 to give both said that the taxpayer is doing Europeans and Chinese full- his part and it is reas-time programmes. The sugges-: suring that the Govern- tion is an excellent one. Gossip ment promises to make every had been, that the old transmit effort to bring the unsatisfac-ter was to be sent to Kai Tack tory recurring water shortages for use in connection with the to an end. In connection with aerodrome. It therefore seemed the Shing Mun work, Hon. Mr. unlikely that listeners-in would W. H. Bell made the interesting receive more than they are now suggestion that the big British getting. The Government, how- contractors should be invited to lever, is considering the tender, if only to afford a guide ter and results may ap- as to fair price and time. The pear. The subject of broad- Auggestion, however, has greater casting having been raised, value than that. As Mr. Bell something might have been said, the big firms at home have said concerning policy. At plant ready, which fact should present, the Government con- save money for the Govern-trol is haphazard. Listeners ment. Also, a point requiring are left to their own devices as emphasis, they might be tempted to reception, and the problem. of to leave the plant here and
use of loud speakers and out- engage in other work such as side aerials in flats will soon re- house-building, as has been done quire regulating. before. The high rents and poor accommodation of Ilong-
Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga lived kong houses are attributed fair-
up to his reputation as Kowloon's ly enough to the landlords, but champion, and the Peninsula also they are due to contractors' will be grateful to him. His profits, and the advent of out-submissions regarding the Kow- side contractors may operate to loon Post Office were to the discourage the formation of point. It does seetil remark- local contracting rings. More able that mails must be closed ard efficient building competiin Kowloon so much earlier than tion would be all to the Colony's in Hongkong, though the ships benefit. From the "Buy Bri-leave from Kowloon. There is tish" point of view also, the in- logic in the submission that the vitation to home contractors despatching depot should be at i would be well received. The of-Kowloon. In fact, it seems in- ficial reply to Mr. Bell was con- evitable that the General Post fusing. While arguing against Office will some day be private designing and supervi- established at Kowloon, and sion, they announce that the it is gratifying to know consulting engineers will in that the Government will make fact play an active part in the ample provision in its plans for Shing Mun work. The main i a new building. On the same point of Mr. Bell's question subject it seems time the Gov- seems, however,
to have been ernment gave to the community evaded.
greater facilities for purchasing
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mat-
I stamps. Elsewhere there are Hon. Mr. Kotewall's most in- licensed stamp vendors and teresting reference was to the there seems no good reason Betting Tax. The Government's why approved persons should present share of this "easy not be similarly trusted here. An- money" is, as Mr. Kotewall other point raised by Mr. Braga said, small, and the impost could touches a subject recently com- be increased profitably and with- mented upon in this column out compunction. The Govern- dangerous banking of roads. ment having proposed no new Mr. Braga asked that the taxation, however, the tact of Laichikok corner be banked and Mr. Kotewall's suggestion may widened; but it is to be regretted be questioned--especially as he that no member drew attention proposed no specific reduction to the danger of banking with-
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