1919-10-31 — Page 3

We are glad that at last the "mortuary on Hill Road is to be removed to a more isolated site. It is at present hommed in on all sides by residential quarters, and the news of its proposed removal has been received with satisfaction by the people

"

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER `SIST,

Governor stated on April 10th last that the recommendations of the Commission bad then already gota forward to Eng land. No doubt there is some good and suficient reason for the delay and I am not going to trouble the Government with

ore of vital importance to hundreds fantiles in the Colony and the Govern

"while they are realise that

burning. A to our recommendations,

living in the neighbourhood, I hope that unnecessary questions, but the man at Colonial Office telegrams. in July and sites. As wo ara asked to assist the mili- |

the work may be completed before the next hot season sets in

I think I may ay. determined not to lay

do not

Any

mente of public servants, which are re

On the question of increased emolusi On the Hongkong side, I doubt whe presented on page 42 of the estimates as on the extension of Lugard Road at the ther it is worth while to spend $45,000

Excellency's speech and from the footnote with the military authorities to release a sum of $485,000, we know from your Peak, unless arrangements can be made on that page that this sum represents some of the military lands in the neigh merely temporary increases authorised by bourhood of Harlech Gap for building September, and that the real sum retary authorities with a Defence Contribu In conacetion with Item 10. Arment officials at Home Addling Rome quired for the service of the year will be tion of $9,858,478 out of our revenues for!

measurably greater. The reticents dis the year, they should at least be reason y without revealing played by the Administration in refrainable in helping to reduce the housing the mattering from publishing the report of the shortage by releasing undeveloped build inviting the opinions of unofficial meus which are not required for military pur bera and the public on that report, is regrettable.. But I may say, sir, that With regard to the $71,481, including when the Government does come forward sum of $21,000 for next year's camp with its proposals on that importan: expenses, which you propose to spend on subject you will not find that then the maintenance of the Defence Corps, is official members. will be niggardly it not high time, sir, that this body of

ssary for the purpose in voting whatever 311,19 may be men, who have cheerfully served for up- The Serwards of five years without daily pay, vice has many genuine grievance with without chevrons, and without medals, which the unofficial members have every and who have been cambad and re-combed sympathy. If I may single out one, in for service in the fighting line until none vision for pastague for public officers and the Colony remain, should be given the particular, it is the lack of adequate pro- but those medically unft er essential to their dependents. Whilst on the subject privilege, accorded to troops throughout of salaries, I may point to the somewhat the Empire, of demobilization at the ear this leading statement which appears in lust posible moment? As a force they rate of exchange on sterling salaries is rendered such services towards the pro the exchange footnote on page 3. The have not proved costly and they have not. 4/5th at 1/0 and 1/5th at 3/tection of the Colony as were deemed The last fifth is paid at the Government necesary, whilst they were always in current race, with the result that neither readiness to do more should the occasion the sterling posts nor the compensated arise The Government, sir, in a time. the suma in dollars stated in the stitiam. I blame them not for that. Every maten. In fact, they will not receive so State may legitimately trade on the its people in times of emer gency, but to continue so to trade when the emergency has passed savours of pro- fiteoring and engenders discontent.

mosquitoes in some parts of the Esland secrets, that we approached aves open to Commission on Emoluments, and friming sites which, cost them nothing addi

♫

-

laneous Drainage Works, we call atten tion to the increase in "the number of The cause may be found in the stagnant water retained in manholes after rains any charges of extravagance or over gon or after flushing operations, which serve erosity. We meant to be as economical as breiding-places of thews insects.

and conservative of the Colony's money We should like to avait ourselves of as we could possibly be. But I am bound this opportunity to call one more Your to say that, on enquiry into the matter. Excellency's attention to the necessity for we found that the case of the Civil Ser a high-power Commercial Wireless Tele was overwhelmingly strong.

Yants for the redress of their grievances graph-station, which we should like erect suffered long and silently and stoically They have ed as soon as possible.

from the Cuctuations of exchange. from I would alp nak that

site the high rents of touses and from the in fairly accessible locality be general increased cost of living in the set apart for a golf-links for the Colony, They

of the

have been fobbedi Portuguese and Asiatic time to time with mean shifts such as the pobed cuf from communities. Representations have been so-called city pay which, was obviously made to my Chinese colleague and myself

only designed to deprive Civil Servants by several Fortuguese gentlemen, as well of the share of pension which should have hi to Chinese, as to the want of such been attached to that duty pay. And not * puree of recreation the road rate, it resulted in forcing them to remain that. It was intended, or at any an pleased to state that their request has out here and work and so injure their the support of my unofficial colleagues.

At the second reading of the Budget health when they should have been at home

recruiting suggested on behalf of the unofficial mem-

their strength What, I think duty pers that the Public Works Committer way. When I was a young man in Hong

pay is perhaps better illustrated in

the American Consul was the cele

USO

Bill Inst year, the Hon. Mr. Landale of the gentleman who invented that dollar posts will receive during the year of emergency, bas traded on their patric

should be enlarged so as to comprim: all kong Colonel Moseley, a great cavalry much unless the doller drops in value to patriotism

the unofficial members of the Council. We do not know whether this suggestion has escaped attention or not, but. in view of the increasing magnitude of our public works, we again press it to the notice of the Government.

leader. He was a first-class fighting man and very.

when I knew him and irascible he soon came to loggerheads with a man called. Peter Smith, the official crimp of the Consulate, Moseley was a past mas petit Breed round, paying

ter in strong language and was soon told

tarned

As regards the permanent increase in the emoluments of Government servants, the unofficial members will gladly vote for whatever additional amount may be considered necessary. For my part, I should also like to see the pay of the lower, grades of the Service. such as the n Asiatic Police and Revenue Officers, some- what raised.

been

was to be

by

11

3/

cont.

of the total votes

on

Passing from the faults of omission to those of commission in theee Estimates, it is to be noted that you propose to I am afraid that, in commenting on this

Works and that of this large sum, no less originally intended, but before I resume spend the sun of $5.51.706, or 35.33 per mass of figures, I have detained the Public Council for somewhat longer than I had my seat to make way for the hon. member who represents the Chamber of Commerce, there are two or three matters of import ance to which I must refer.

than $3,73,700 are

the unofficial members.

to bo devoted te.

departments I note that the Government Under the beading"" Judicial and Legal

substitute a second grade Chinese inter interpreter (a. European billet) and to

proposal, sit, with consternation. preter. The legal profession views. this f

The

the upinion that the monetary loss that Peels & recommend any expendi- the Government's proposals in the mat consequence, the services of some of thei

stance,

per administration of justice in this Colony depends, in no small measure, on Amongst the most outstanding omin

the quality of interpretation. It is sions from the draft estimates are any fully qualified Europeans on the inter. essential that there should be at least two reference to the Praya East reclamation preting staff and that they should be scheme (a matter of infinitely great supplemented by Chinese interpreters of er importance than the reclamation scheme for Aplichau), and, aqually has been niggardly in this respect in the the first grade only. The administration portant. the omission of any reference to past and the Government has lost, in ter of housing, with regard to which the best of the Chinese interpreters and If the item of $150,000, on page 94 for 1 situation is, I can assure you, acute. translators. commencement of a road which will bill tramway to Wanchai Gap, and the eventually reach Shek O and Cape D'Aguilar are intended as contributions to the bousing problem, I will observe benefit posterity, they do not go one inch towards the solution of the problem of the present situation, which is urgent throughout the Colony and particularly in Kowloon...

bel Peter Smith, the word is not coined that could libel him. That is how I feel Public Works Extraordinary. That be trusted with him. Peter Smith must have or palliate the reticence which has been of the man who invented pay. Coning so it would seem imposible to defend nobleman. know Mr. Messer displayed by the Administration in dis says they must make the best of it and regarding the unanimous desire of the that it is

Is better than nothing. Should the estimated balance in favouzlike. the, little boys taking medicine that the estimates for public works ahould proposes to abolish the post of Assistant:

It was anofficial members, expressed last year, Drevenue be turned into deficit. They laughed miserably. it is most likely to be, by the additional wretches, but they had to swallow it. The Public Works Committee of this Council,

the little

be submitted in the rat instance to the expenditure necessary for payment of men in high places should care for the which should be enlarged for that pur increased salaries and by the expected interests of those under them. They heavy loss in the Government's rice trans should not try to take advantage of diff. Po appears to be the case ia Singa bat a would have the accrued culties in this way. If I were not speak pore and Penang, by the inclusion of all balances of the Colony to fall back upon.

ing in this Council and in the presence If nоcessary, we could resort to a short of HE. the Governor, I should call it term loan to pay fur, ner works of dirty trick. I do not think I need ca development, many of which, as Your large on that subject so will turn back Excellency said, would be remunerative.

now to the recommendations. We invited Speaking of the Government action in everyone who wished to come before na dealing with the rice situation. I venture

and

his or her We examined every applicant and, in no in- may result from it will be more than ture or any increase that we did not think compensated by the good it has done. It absolutely justified by the provented the incipient riots that had a matter of bare justice and nothing

by the facts. It Broken out from assuming uglier pro portione; it had a decidedly ptendying can do very little in these matters. We more. After all we unofficial members influence on the minds of the whole equc can bark but we are muzzled by the offi- munity; and, though the Government cial majority, and we cannot bite. But I might not have foreseen it, it helped to will go that if Lord Minor advisers that, however much these works may be personally aware, sir, so shortly after bring down prices very quickly.

un barking as long as I can any Had I say now not the Government bought such a large see it to modify our recommendations quantity of rice, and become the people's to any material extens they will do grave grocers, as it were, the prices of the cominjustice to their fellow servants out here modity would most probably have remain as well as to a body of hard working, ed on their high levels much longer than patient and loyal men and women: they did, and the public would have had to pay them anyhow. The whole matter therefore resolves itself into this: the Government, as representatives of the people collectively, paid high prices for the rice, which, otherwise, the people individually would have bad to pay. A to whether the handling of the buying and selling part has been done in a busi nesslike manner or not, I prefer to defer judgment until the whole matter is closed, and a statement of the transac sions is laid before this Council, as un. doubtedly it will be I should add that the views I have expressed are shared by my unofficial colleagues.

In conclusion, we desire to offer the Government our congratulations apon the progress of the Colony as evidenced by the figures in the Draft Estimates and in the Financial Statements before us. It speaks highly of the administration, especially the work of Sir Henry May and of the Hon. Mr. Claud Severn, who, for about a year, administered the Gov. ornment with ability and success.

H. R. G. SHEWAN'S SPEECH.

I

ME. C. G. ALABASTER'S SPEECH," The Hon. Mr. C. G. ALABASTER, said:

Sir. I desire to associate myself with the remarks which have fallen from the senior unofficial member of this Council, more especially as those remarks reflect the unofficial members have held on this the results of certain discussions which budget.

If I may supplement those remarks. sir, I should like to say that, whilst the Colany and those who have the shaping on the continuous and natural increase of its destinies are to be congratulated of ita revenues and on the allocation of to development, it is impossible to pass so large a proportion of those revenues thee estimates without some criticism of their faults, the greatest of which are those of omission.

J

While additional public works will Department charged with the duty of necesitate increases in the staff of the executing them, it is becoming more and move evident that the time has arrived to relieve that overburdened Department of Crown Land and conversion of farm of its duties in connection with the sale

lots into building lots in urban areas. These duties properly appertain to the Land Office, which should have its own staff of surveyors under the Land Officer. ference to the item of $200,000 which In this connection, and with special re appears at the bottom of page 5 as the like to endorse and repeat every word estimated premia on land sales, I should uttered by the Hon Mr. Landale leat year, when dealing with the same item,

of the Hansard report. words which you will and, sir, on page

two Sanitary inspectors to do the work at Under the heading "Sanitary Depart

Kowloon City and Shamshuipo formerly mont you are making provision for only

done by Police Inspectors. You may not your arrival in the Colony, that when the estimates for the Banitary Depart meat came before the Sanitary Board last May, four new Sanitary Inspectors, and not two, were recommended. Fur ther, that that recommendation was re consisting of the President, Mr. Chan ferred by the Board to a sub-committee Kai-ming, Mr. Bowley and Mr. S..W. Tso, who were unanimous in supporting the recommendation for four, and the ze to by the Sanitary Board at a meeting commendation was unanimously agreed

Board to be flouted and the Departmen

Why then, sir, is the deprived of the services of two much- needed inspectors, one of whom was to Quarry Bay?" have been employed at Shaukiwan and

on the 10th June.

Lastly, sir, thought there is much I have had perforce to leave unsaid, there is

1919.

THORNYCROFT

JOHN I THORNYCROFT & CO., LIMITED. SHIPHUILDERS AND ENGINEERS, LONDON, SOUTHAMPTON AND

BASINGSTOKE

Shanghai Office: 65, Szechien Road.

MARINE MOTORS AND MOTOR BOATS. MOTOR LIGHTING AND PUMPING SETS. SHALLOW DRAFT STEAMERS. "THORNYCROFT OIL FUEL SYSTEM.”

Commercial, High-speed and Pleasure. Craft.

THORNYCROFT

BOILERS.

WATER-TUBE THORNYCROFT MOTOR VEHICLES.

Our Motor Engineer and our Naval Architect, both Thornycroft exports, now resident in Shanghai, will give attention to all inquires.,

Early dolivaries can be made of 15-b.h.p., 30-b.b.p., 45-b.h.p., and 70-bb.p. Kerosene Marine Engines. „

R. R. ROXBURGH,

Manager for Chica.

(1383

TO SAVE YOUR MONEY

We sell high-class Cigars,

Cigarettes and Tobaccos

at very moderate prices.

TABAQUERIA FILIPINA,

10, Des Voeux Road, Opposite King Edward Hotel.

the item under the bead of Education" OUR PRICE LISTS HAVE NOW BEEN PUBLISHED AND which shows an estimated increase of capitation grants from $51,763 to $71,534, but this is explained by the fact that more schools are to be included in the

grant schowo. It does not seem that there THESE MAY BE HAD ON APPLICATION AT OUR STORE. has been any increase in the actual grants per head for any particular school since 1910, notwithstanding that estab lishment charges for maintenance and salaries have measurably increased since

Last year this. Council was asked to apply a sum not exceeding $10,606,215 to the Public Service of the year 1919. For Extraordinary, or page 96, that the sum I notice amongst the Public Works the previous year the sum voted was of 800,000 is to be spent on the recon- 88,386,010. Yet only eight weeks ago we struction of ferry piers, which now are a were asked to authorise the appropria disgrace to the fair fame of the Colony. tion of # supplementary

of I note, also, that though a similar sum year 1918, and we now know from your was spent. I should like to know the in 1815, the University. Local examination $5,168,327, to defray the charges of the was voted last year only one-fifth of that date. Indeed, I understand that, Excellency's speech un the first reading reason! Although Eastern Street ferry grants were actually halved.

pior, was removed about a year ago no All these are matters which I récom thing has been done to replace it. The mend to the earnest attention of your Earry pier on the new bund opposite the Excellency's Government. market at Cheung Chau has not been even begun. The ferry piers assigned to The Hon. Mr. E. V. D. PARD said: the Yaumati and associated ferries are Your Excellency, in nasociating myself impossibly narrow and congested. The generally with what the hon. unofficial want of proper supervision of these members have said, I would like to add buckets of pigwash when leaving of recommendations of the Commission ap- piers is apparent to everyone who has had that I feel certain I am voicing the opinion occasion to thread big way through of the general public in endorsing the arriving at these piers by ferry. Whilst pointed by the Government to raise the

of this Bill that these estimates which are framed to show a balance in favour of revenue of something more than four lakhs, attain thas satiafictory appearance only by the studied omission of two factory of expenditure which must be reckoned with during the financial year the deficit on rice purchases and the emolument. of public servants. under the former head, you have told us, The amount which will be required cannot be evenly approximately estimat

MB. E. V. D. PARR'S SPEECH, "

The Hon. Mr. R. G. SHEWAN id: Sir, I had bot intended as I have only Just returned to the Colony-to say any thing about the figures now laid before aus, but the Hon. Mr. Lau Chu-pak's re- marks have raised some memories of old days I quite

agree with his remarks On the education of little children. have long thought that something ought, to be done for these urchins, these waifs and strays allowed to run wild on the streets. I think they should be, somehow or other, fed and given some education. but I am not at all sure that this should be done by the Government. In Eng

as you know, "one constantly scesed; it is fairly generally believed that it on the subject of ferries, I notice, on page scale of European pay, more especially with the inscription

by

1.Ee

one will run into some millions of doliars on I know

At any rate, I should like to see many

Pre-

Bent supported by voluntary contribu-

·tions.

it i

21

give

Probation to the Government on

ablo

this

If hitherto, unofficial members have re

new licences in connection with the on leave for the families of bea!

a source of revenue.

It would be As regards the Government's present

or

to

would provide sinking funds,

the amount requir

Ee public spirit of the Chinese and I frained from criticising or catechising Kowloon (West) ferries. think Mr."La Chu-pak and his wealthy friends might easily attend to this matter.

the Government on the rice question you better, in the interests of the community, Proposal to spend some $5,000,000 of cur must understand, sir, that they have that fares be reduced and the type of rent expenditure for public works out more institutions than there are at exercised that self-restraint so as not to vessel improved than that we should of revenue, in the event of

tie the hands of the Administration in regard those accessary communications aing easier as

becom it is fairly certain dealing with a delicate and difficult situa

do As for the smuggling of Opium,

sooner I fear, however, tinn. But the time for calling on the that not until you have required your

fater, I would reiterate the ad vice of the Hon. delicate question but I think it Government to give an account of its Heads of Department and Executive and to this Council thendale last year the only business is a purely Chinese one. It is quite stewardship cannot be much de obvious that there are some rich capital ferred: It is to be hoped, sir, tonger de Legislative Councillors to travel by the way of supplying the Colony with such ordinary ferries to Aberdeen, Stanley, works is by means of short loans, in local sats, behind this amuggling and I think will be devised to prevent a recurrener Fing Chau and Tai 0; will you be pre which would or prob Chupak and his friends could of the conditions of of paying the biti porly advised as to what is really requir

they wished, very valu- and that the burden of paying the billed to bring oar ferry services up to date. distributing the burden of repayment.

ed for each ye

year while mare equitably point

will be imposed as far as possible on the At

I am glad to see that you intend to believe it might be possible to save com- likely to find out about it than foreigners. situation interests that brought the spond 810,000 on the extension of Coro sidérable nums of this proposed expendi

At any rate they More As to the question of rice,

about. do not think

nation Bond northward and a further use on public works, if the Government It is to be hoped, air, also that by 150,000 on other roads in Kowloon; also could dispense more Mr. Lau Chu-pak should be very hard improving the communications with the that it is proposed to lay a larger main services when the contractors' charges are

with on the Government.

contractors' Ebeir best, as I understand, in the crisis Southern district of the New Territorios, from the reservoir filter beds and to im excessive: I mean by the Gomarke

They had to do and they had au Joseph to tell them seven

particularly Lantau and Lamme, greater prove the system of distribution in that buying their stores in the open areas of Colonial land may be put under rapidly developing district. With abund understand some such arrangements years beforehand what was going to cultivation so as to able the Colony ance of water in the reservoir, the in have been successfully carried out in the happen. There

is only оде matter I really meant to refer to

to grow its own consumption of rice and habitants of Kowloon have suffered for Straits Bettlements. The Government, which had the other vegetables and fruits. The calti years from a difficulty in obtaining honour of serving on the Civil Service Vated acreage at present is only 42,463. water in their houses which amounts to more than at present, by helping them, might also encourage-smaller contractors Balaries Commission and I was rather It is high time, sir, that steps were taken a positive scandal,

when surprised when I returned to the Colony to put a much as possible of the re

It is due to them reliable, to bigger jobs, thus assisting to they have shown themselves to be that the Government should state ex distribute the demand for all work in to find that no oficial announcement had maining 207,778 serca under cultivation plicitly the precise nature of the measures been made on that sabject. I presume on the terrace system, at which the Chinese it intends to take to remove that all the Colony more equally over the supply. the dolny, has obcurred-in Loetion sa the sultivator in such an adapt

foulty during the ensuing year.

́(Continued on page 4)...

IMPORTANT NOTICE.

[769

IN Manufactures the most Important Point is Improvement, and 'in Distatica

Cleanlinem. Science always insists on these Maximos, Groundnut or Ponnut Oil can be used as.. substitute for Olive Oil Butter or Lard, but when Slightly Dirty is injurious to health.

.

4

In China, by the Ordinary Methods of Extraction, Dirt and Dust are not guardiexi against: Our Method shows a great advance. By the use of New Machinery and New Methods Scrupulous Clearskindos in: Amarad.

"

Our Machinery during the Procem Filters the Oil while our Factory is Free from Dust. Our Oil is Clear, Sweet and Fragrant; and Compares most favourably with other Oils used for Culinary purposes: there is no residuo

Prices are moderate so as to induce new businemi, Analysia is always given before Shipment to Foreign Countries.

Bole

NAM CHAU OLL FACTORY, Office:-No. 28, Counalight Boad West, HONGKONG, Factory: No. 6, Kwei Ida Street, SAMSHULPO. rietorship off this concern belongs entirely to a Chinese Citizen,