SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
16th September, 1938.
(6)
Cannot Afford Risk
It has also been suggested that we ought to charge a flat rate, but I think the answer to that is simply that we have not got the water and that we cannot afford to take risk of the increase in consumption, which will probably result from the complete removal from
deterrent of any wastage of water. A picture has been painted of poor people being I am obliged to resort to hydrants. afraid I find that impossible to ex¬ plain. At present, the poor tenant of a Chinese tenement house, if he pays for water at all, pays for it at 421⁄2 cents. In future he is paying. 25 cents. I simply cannot understand why he should go to hydrants when he gets 172 cents. cheaper. 1/
Finally, Dr. Li suggested that Government should make no profit. I cannot see where that profit. has risen. The only item of expenditure, which is not actual expenditure, is this contribution in renewals, but that is not profit usable by the It Government for general purpose. is allotted purely and simply to renew water undertakings, and it is the property of the water under- taking. It is also contemplated that if there should be a small surplus income over expenditure at the close of the year that surplus will remain the property of the water undertak- ing and will not be available for the general purpose of the Government. There could be no profitable item.
As regards the Fanling Golf Club, I understand there is a specific agree- ment with the Club whereby it is entitled to free supplies.
Supply to Golf Club
Hon. Mr. R. M. Henderson (Direc- tor of Public Works) said:
reason
The
free
for this so-called allowance to the Golf Club is due to the fact that when the Golf Club started in 1910 there was no Govern- ment supply at Fanling and they had to construct their own water supply. About 1920 or 1924 I think it was, quite a number of houses were
built at Fanling and the Golf Club was approached to supply water, the Government being unable to do so, and the Club had in fact supplied water to one or two bungalows. However, it was found that the buildings were getting rather large and Government got into touch with the Golf Club and it was arranged that a valuation should be made of the Club's waterworks and instead of paying the Club for the water- works we should give them free. water allowance on the value.
His Excellency the Governor: Be- fore I put the motion to the Council, I would like to say this: There is one objection which, had it been proved, would have easily induced me to put this Bill back for further consideration, and that is if it had been shown that the effect of the proposed charges would react un- fairly on the poorer members of he Community. I think it must be ad- mitted that the Financial Secretary has proved quite conclusively that the case is the opposite and that the increase of the burden will fall upon those more capable of bearing, and for that reason I propose to put it the Bill forward as it stands. There is another point and that is the two per cent. renewal. Members will agree, when they think them over, that the objections are to some ex- tent academic. I only mentioned the point because having long experience of Legislative Councils I have heard Government criticised for not follow- ing the example of business houses and when they did they never rer ceived a pat on the back.
The second reading of the Bill was then put to the vote, and with the exception of the members who had spoken against it, all signified their approbation.
The Bill was then read a second time, after which the Attorney- General asked that, in view of the numerous amendments which had been made, it be gazetted before be- ing passed as law at the next meeting. This was approved.
78
Page 70Page 71
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.