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The Hon. Mr A. L. Shields expressed grave concern at the estimated deficit and urged that a tight rein be kept on expendi- ture by Government Departments on their pet schemes, which might endanger the solvency of the Colony. On the question of providing vessels for the Admiralty, he suggested the construction of freighters because they would be in demand long after the war is over.
More serious and strenuous efforts to stamp out crime and vice were urged by the Hon. Mr W. N. Thomas Tam, who said that Government owed it to the innocent and law-abiding to remove from them a constant fear of and a growing concern for lawlessness and insecurity.
The Hon. Mr T. E. Pearce expressed disappointment at the poor returns of the Business Profit Tax, and voiced the hope that independent Committees of enquiry would soon be instituted to make close scrutiny into the running of several important Government Departments.
The practice of Government in keeping a surplus was criticised by the Hon. Mr Li Tse-fong, who said that the method was mediaeval and urged that the balances be used for war expenditure.
In his reply, the Financial Secretary said that he had never viewed the expenditure programme as ideal but submitted that it was necessary. There was no oppressive taxation in the Colony, which was at present enjoying an unprecedented prosperity in spite of the high cost of living, and he argued that none of the new taxation proposed was oppressive.
The President disclosed that Government had decided to appoint a strong Committee to enquire into the various allegations which had recently been made against the Immigration Officer and his staff; that the Food Control organisation had been under very active scrutiny in the past week; and that, as regards the supply of firewood, a representative had been sent to Manila, Borneo and Malaya to enquire into this vital necessity there. The first shipment of firewood from Sandakan was expected shortly.
REMOVAL OF NIGHTSOIL
He said: On January 16, 1941, by a Resolution of this Council the draft estimates of expenditure for 1941-42 were referred to a Select Committee consisting of myself, the Financial Secretary and all Unofficial Members of this Council. We now present our report in the form of the amended print bearing to-day's date.
The Hon. Mr N. L. Smith (Colonial | tary: That the Estimates of Expen- Secretary) presided, and others pre- diture for the year 1941-42 as now sent were: His Excellency Major- presented be approved. General A. E. Grasett, General Officer Commanding, the Hon. Mr C. G. Alabaster (Attorney General), the Hon. Mr R. A. C. North (Secretary for Chinese Affairs), the Hon. Mr H. R. Butters (Financial Secretary), the Hon. Dr P. S. Selwyn-Clarke (Direc-[ tor of Medical Services), the Hon. Mr A. B. Purves (Director of Public Works), the Hon. Mr C. G. Perdue (Acting Commissioner of Police), the Hon Mr W. J. Carrie (Chairman of Urban Council), the Hon. Mr J. J. Paterson, the Hon. Mr S. H. Dod- well, the Hon. Mr M. K. Lo, the Hon. Mr Leo D'Alamada e Castro, Jnr., the Hon. Mr A. L. Shields, the Hon. Mr W. N. Thomas Tam, the Hon. Mr T. E. Pearce, the Hon. Mr Li Tse-fong, and Mr C. B. Burgess (Deputy Clerk of Councils).
Expenditure Excisions
As foreshadowed in the speech of the Hon. Financial Secretary on January 16 the provision for the con- struction of a new Lighthouse Tender has been excised. It has also been
decided not to proceed during the coming financial year with the build- ing of the proposed new block of offices and quarters at the Central Police Station, though a token vote of $50,000 remains in the draft estimates to cover any expenditure that may have been incurred in the preparatory work of drawing up plans, etc.
After the Hon. Mr Li Tse-fong had taken the Oath of 'Allegiance and the Report of the Finance Committee (No. | 11), dated January 30, 1941, had Similarly the Select Committee felt been adopted, the President opened that the times are not sufficiently the Debate on the Budget by pro- propitious and the plans not posing the following resolution stand-sufficiently matured to permit the ing in his name as Colonial Secre- building
proposed new
of the
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