CO129-625-2 Finance- revenue equalization fund 1-1-1951 - 31-12-1951 — Page 15

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this be at all possible. If necessary we consider that this work should take precedence over the project for a new mental hospital, which we have recommended also should start in 1953/54.

The Abattoir is in our view a project of the utmost importance, and we have recommended that a start should be made if possible in 1952/53. We understand from the Director of Public Works that it is a highly specialised job and that his department is not qualified to undertake it, so that its commencement will depend on whether consultants can be obtained from the U.K. to carry out the work.

The Chairman of the Urban Council has pressed for acceleration of the programme for light construction markets, and also for public latrines and bath houses. In respect of the former, we have brought the programme slightly forward to provide for the construction of two markets in 1952/53. We have not altered the amount to be made available for the following two financial years, but we recommend that further consideration be given to the point in another twelve months' time. We feel unable to recommend an increase in the programme for public latrines and bath houses, but we consider that possibly a lighter and simpler form of construction might be adopted which would enable more latrines and bath houses to be provided for the same money.

We have included a new item for markets in the New Territories, projects for which the D.C.N.T. has been pressing. On a rough estimate of $100,000 per market we have provided for one market in each of the three financial years from 1952/53 onwards. These markets should, we consider, be revenue-producing.

Offices, Quarters.Etc.,

The first four items under this head appear in the present programme, but in some cases the cost has been revised. We regard them as demands which must be proceeded with. We had some doubts as to the value of the Public Works Department workshop, but the Director of Public Works has assured us that provision of this workshop will result in a more efficient maintenance service with consequent substantial savings in recurrent expenditure. On this, assuranco we have provided that the project shall start in 1952/53.

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We were concerned at the vast number of minor projects which had been asked for by various departments all over the Colony. These include for example dispensaries, health offices, fire brigade stations, post offices, marine licensing offices, and so on. We came to the conclusion that isolated buildings of this kind were uneconomic from every point of view, and we feel that the policy wherever possible should be to group as many as possible of these projects under one roof. We do not see why it should not be possible, for example, to group a post office, a health office, a dispensary and even a fire brigade station, with quarters for staff, in one building for one district, and we understand that this possibility is now under consideration. On the assumption that it will prove feasible, we recommend that the item "District Branch Offices" should be introduced. The Director of Public Works indicated that it would not be possible to start building any of these branch offices before 1953/54, and accordingly we have provided a token sum of $32 millions with expenditure of $2 millions starting in 1953/54.