1931-10-23 — Page 6

BUDGET DEBATE

ed from Pape 5.)

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1931.

HON. MR. C. GORDON MACKIE

POSITION IN OTHER. COLONIES.

sury

rate" of exchange notwith standing that on the recommenda- tion of the Baldrica: Commission' they were recently increased by 16. por cont. This means according to. the figures kindly supplied by Uk Hon the Colonial Treasurer, that The Hon. Mr. C. Gordon Mackie naditional tax on the resources id Sir--My colleague, »Hon. Sir of the Colony of approximately Shouton Chow, the Senior Un-one million dollars will be levied Official Member, in his review of the budget, dealt with the question

noxt year.

of sterling salaries and monsioned When this question of salaries that I on behalf of the Hong Kung was debated last year, thanks to General Chamber of Commerce would also speak on this subject, the good offices of your Excellency Buforo expessing the views of the a compromise was reached, al- Chamber, with which all the Un- Official Members are in entire though in the opinion of the Un. agreement, there is another matter Oftojala, that arrangement was still, of great interest to the commercial too favourable to the Civil Ser- community which I wish to bring vanta. The matter would then no forward.

Reference is made by the Hon doubt have been finally disposed

bars of the Civil Service forwarded,

petition to the Secretary ut

my Chinese colleagues and 1 gladly clerical work, but perhaps a begin Colonial Secretary in his speech to of bub for the fact that certain mon.

approve of the provision made in the Estimates for this school which, we think, will be of real benefit to the community.

Whet

of what station, of life, should have if Personal Emoluments, Other the chance of acquiring an elemen-Charges, and Special Expenditure tary education in their own of each department were shown language.

soparately, thereby enabling the DonJunior Jchniedi School, *

public to see the variations in each of those three main items for The institution of a Junior

period of ten years. The statement Technical School is another im could be further improved, in my portant improvement in our educa

by having all the salaries tional system, on which the Cavern-prone to any one department ment is to be congratulated. The allonteil to that department, in- Hon. Colonial Secretary has said stend of having them grouped un- Hut the school was not expected to der the three omnibus heade pay for itself by foos received, as Cadet Service, Senior Clerical and

was intended for sons of com Accounting Staff,

and Junior peratively poor parents. No one Clerical Staff. To do this for the would ronsonably expect that the Ingo ten years might entail too much feus would, éover expenditure, and

ning in this direction might ba man, with 1931, the year in which the work being done by the Fort the totals of the three main items Development sub-departement, whion mentioned were for the first time he states is at present mainly oc- given in the estimates of each de cupied with the Vehicular Ferry Stato, preninger payment of fuil partment under the caption "Sum-Scheme. Whilst admitting that salaries of current Fate Legally

From this Summary the that work is of great importance figure for the statement can by to the Colony, I consider that it may be argued that employees matter which requires much more on sterling salaries are entitled to urgent attention je tha compiled without difficulty.

bo paid in local currency at Tren Speaking of the omnibus survey of the harbour heads, I see from his report on the that the long over-due work of sury rate of exchange and I feel audit of the accounts of Hong Kong dredging can be taken in and that there would really be no for the year 1930, that the Govern without any further delay. I un strong argument against that wore mont Auditor is not altogether en-derstand, that one officer hng been it not for the fact that these same. amoured of the method of grouping detailed for this special service, employees were paid ut a profer salaries in the manner at pre- There has been no extensive dredgential rate when the dollar sent employed. It may be interesting done since 1928 and had it not standing much above what it is ing" to point out that in 1925 been for the reclamation a Kaito-day and when it was vastly to the Inte Hon. Mr. F. H. Holyoak

their benefit to break away from said that the unofficial, members

the actual terms of their contract, were not fully satisfied that it was

One can't both have one's cake and not preferable to debit salaries of

ent it. The cost of living has the clerical service to the various

admittedly not gone up to the same departmente concerned, so that the

extent that exchange has fallen (unofficial members could arrive at

and anyone fortunate enough to be drawing his sterling pay at current exchange" is infinitely hat- tor off than he could, reasonably expect to be.

Young's. Educational

System.

Excellency had recently appointed a committee to enquire into the question of. Chinese educa. tion at the University of Hong Kong. It appears to me, that the ime has come when our education

system as a whole should be thoroughly overhauled, and, that it may be profitable to appoint a summittee for the purpose. Some think that we are spending, far too much on education; others feel, that wa do not spend enough; while yạt athers. consider that, the system in reguo is capable of improvement. That being the case, a committen of Anquiry, composed of men with practical experience of education and with knowledge of local con- ditions, should be of great assis tance to the Government in deter- mining its educational policy.

Water Supply.n

"

As the question of water supply

Taxation.

J.

inary.

Tack that work might possibly not have been carried out even now.

Dredging by Wharf Company.

Bituation Elsewhere.

тая

Anxiety While Berthing. Athough the Wharf Company keen à suficient depth of water at their wharves to allow the largest

shall there- vessels to go alongside, the approa ches to the barths used by these fore in due course move the fol steamers are by no means satisfac- lowing amendment to Section Two tory: Anyone who cares to watch of the proposed Bill:-- AB

the borthing, and unberthing of big a from the mail bonte, can amount of mud they displace that the navigating of those aliips must cause much anxiety to those "in command.

That

* To accommodate the larger steamers trading to this port Hong Kong and Kowloon Wharf definite knowledge of the cost of Godown Co. Ltd. have extended running each department. But the their existing wharves and are now Government did not accept this building a still longer wharf. This view. In 1929 the Hon. Sir Shou-now wharf which is boins, erected son Chow. on behalf of the un-ab a cost of over a million dollara. offeinl menbers, also drew atten will be completed by the end of Government Servante, at Home, tion to this method, and suggested thin year but owing to of vital importance to the that the public interest would be shallow approaches it will not places have all had their salaries thein Ceylon, the Straits and other Chinese, I make no apologies for better served by reverting to the old Be available for the big modern out and it is only fitting that the adding a few remarks to those of :

system of embodying in the the honourable senior anofficial estimates of each department alliners until a channel is drudged. Civil Servants of this Colony member. Three years ago, when the salaries chargeable to that depart work which should be carried out the burden occasioned by the pro- I maintain this is essentially a should shoulder their fair share of supply to the rider-main districts ment, even if a little more time by and at the expense of the Gov. sent world wide depression instead lind to be severely restricted from and labour, were entailed" thereby ernment, whose duty it is to proof increasing the Tevy on the sime to time, entailing acute hard-1 To this suggestion the Government vide access to barths for all steam ship on the people, I felt it made a partial concession by iners trading to this port. Addi cidentally finding themselves better rendy sorely hit taxpayer, and in- duty to speak on the Government's troducing the Surrimary I have tional taxes have recently been off than they have ever been at my lack of foresight in providing an

mentioned. adequate supply to the people. To distinct improvement on the forn and taxes payable by the Wharf

This Summary is levied on shipping and the rates time during their service, day, it is my agreeable duty to ex-of the previous Estimates, though Company are asscased on profits as has been given at meetings of the Full consideration to this subject, presa appreciation of the expedien the whole I prefer to see the shown in the Company's balance Committees of the Chamber of ious and satisfactory manner in estimates of expenditure of each which various waterworks have been department contain all the detailed sheet, that is to say they are col Commerca and China Association or will soon bo completed. The dishuraments it has to make. At leoled on revenue from sharves in and of Un-Official Members of this Chinese would be grateful if Your any rate, the Auditor seems to hold

addition to pier renta.

Council. The decision, unanimous«, į Excellency could assure them that this view; but if the Government is Company have a grab dredger con-tary of State for the Colonies At the present time the Wharf ly adopted was that as the Score- with the completion of these works, not prepared to go to the length adstantly employed, removing refuse has definitely, decided that Sterl sporadic restrictions such as evocated by me, may I suggest that deposited between the wharves ing salaries are to be paid at have experienced in the past need in future Estimates, under the hand from the sewera and nullahs run Treasury rate of exchange as from not be feared in the future.

"Summary," Special Expenditure Agriculture in New Territories, should be shown after Personal aing down Haiphong and Pekan January 1 next, notwithstanding The Hon. Dr. S..W. Ts'o will Emoluments and Other Charger Roads. That dredging should sure that the present basis of payment is acceptable to the Official as well speak on the necessity for more have been totalled. Specia! Ex-y be undertaken by Government,

is the Unofficial Members of this menuragement and support being penditure is non-recurrent expen

✅Council, full inslice would bo dane given by the Government to the diture, and may show a large

both to the Civil Servant and to growing of vegetables in the Now amount in one year and nothing Territories, so that the Colony may all in another; to group it with

the taxpayer if salaries are be less dependent on outside sup- the other two recurrent items may

duced by 10 per cant before con- plies. With his view and suggen- cause a, wrong conception of the

version into dollars, tion Sir Shou-son Chow and I are real position of the estimated re- in Agrosment.

current expenditure of a depart ment for the following year compared with that of the current

·BUM- not exceeding. 825,708.257 in place of the sum Lest an omission on my part to year. For example, take the Sum- mention the now taxes recently mary attached to the Imports and

of 826,641 787 shall be and the brought into force give the im- Exporte Office on page 57. From

same is hereby charged upon the pression that the Chinese have no this you will see that the Special

revefiue and other funds of the PARATIVA Colony for the service of the strong feeling on the subject, Expenditure for 1931 is 820,800 and should like to say that the Chinese for 1932 only 80,000; while the total At times, in the neighbourhood

year 1932," view these wholesale imports with of the three main Items Personal of the wharves, our beautiful har siderable concern and apprehen- Emoluments Other Charges, and our reminds one of the muddy sion. The Government has made a Special Expenditure for 1981, was water of the estuary of the Yang- tare as seen when approaching, and. fera, and has introduced many 842,341-an apparent decrease of new forms of taxation, which 80,200-when in reality the estimates Colony is largely dependent on the affect all classes of the community for 1032, if computed without the fucilities it affords to shipping and directly and indirectly, and to a Special Expenditure, should reveal everything possible must be done more or less extent. The taxable an increase of 98,331. With the to meet modern day requirements. The Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga said: capacity of the people, as has been Special Expenditure shown separ will be given to this matter and pose to assume is connection with I trust that fuft consideration Your Excellency, The role I pro- minted out by the honourable ately in the Summary, this confu- that essential dredging will be, the Budget debate is that of special senior unofficial member, has now Bion would be obviated. ranched a point where any addition- Another innovation

taken in hand at once and not pleader on behalf of Kowloon. Be al imports will have an adverse would suggest is the inclusion in the hydrographical survey now be Excellency and this Honourable I delayed ponding the completion of fore, however, presenting to Your effect on the economic life of the future Estimates of a new stato-ing made. community. It is earnestly to be ment showing the percentage of Turning to the question of ster claims which the Kowloon Resi- hoped, now that the Government each head of expenditure to the ing salaries, to which reference has dents' Association desire me to has managed to balance a very dif- to the total estimated Expenditure, already been made, this is a sub submit for modest and moderate fault Budget, and the rate of ex- excluding Public Works Extra-ject which-if judged by what one but, nevertheless, urgent public im- changa is actually higher than the ordinary; and also the percentage reads and hears in causing more provoments for the peninsula, great rato on which the draft Estimates of each head of expenditure to the adverso comment and arousing disappointment must be expressed are based, the Government will give total estimated Revenue, excluding stronger public feeling than anyat the non-fillment of the Gov- the, people some respite by, ceasing Land Sales and peother matter raised in connection, ernment's undertaking to economise its quest for additional revenue,

I apologise for the seeming pre- with the estimates for 1032 in the direction of the stafing of Technical Aspect of the Estimates,sumption with which I have proffer- The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, the public service by a larger num- Having expressed the collectivo ed these suggestions. I have done in his able general survey in intro- ber, of dollar for sterling paid ser- views of the Chinese unofficial memo in the belief that I might be ducing the Budget, unfortunately vants of the Government, bera, may L, with great deference efforts to produce the Estimates in picture describing the sacrifices the in the formulation of my criticisms, helpful to the Government in its when dealing with salarios drew a

I Jabour under some disadvantage! offer some personal - opinions and suggestions in regard to the form that would facilitate refer- sterling paid Civil Servants had since in the absence of the Report technical aspect of the Estimates once," and would afford the com- been called upon beer in the of the Retrenchment Committee, I am emboldened to undertake this munity information for which it burden of balancing the Budget as which has been withheld from the self-imposed task by the readiness has looked in vain in the past. compared with the employees of the Unofficial Members of the Legisla with which the Government has in

business concerns of the Colony tyg Council, except those who are "the past, adopted similar sugges-

His statement were not at all con- also members of the Executive An & representative of the Chi- vincing and ware, in fact, very Council, it is impossible to deter tions from the unofficial members. nese residents, may I associate them misleading, ax, I may state, at mino the extent to which the Ee And also by the experience which will the pledge of co-operation and most without exception, the entire trenchment Committee had sc gained from the humble part I took support offered to Your Excellency business and professional cummun-quiesced in the Government's policy in the preparation of the Colony's by the unofficial members through ity has been very severely hit by of maintaining an expensive per their leader? I should also like, on by had trade and the drop in oxsonnel on a stering basis. Nor is their behalf, to tender to Your Exchange...... cellency grateful thanks for your

די

thorough revision of all the licences 8948,610, and the total for 1939 was Shanghai. The prosperity of the

annual Estimates when had the honour of serving in the Colonial Secretary's Office.

11-2 may be formitted to say so,

Conclusion.

which

hind expression of sympathy with Figures Bent to His Excellency

their countrymen in the great mis-]

MR. J. P. BRAGA.

APPEAL FOR KOWLOON AMENITIES,

Council a case for the needs and

edit, possible to ascertain how far Your Excolloney's justructions to the form of the draft Estimates now

several departments (Hansard 1030. before us is undoubtedly better than fortune that has befallen them I have sent to your Excellency 2) regarding heal recruiting that of any Estimates that have through the series of unprecedented confidentially figures which show have been carried out. Until the toon presented to this Concil dur-ly disastrous foods in the Yangtare that many of the large industrial Government give an earnest of its ing the past several yours. The regions, and also for the Govern concerti ani business houses have determination to apply the axe in two statements showing the actual ment's generous contribution in aid apart from paying sterling salaries: respect of a large hnch of the Revenue, and the actual Expands of the victims of the floods in at a fixed rate of archaize, Enide gold, section of its administration. ture for the past ten years, now Kwongtung. This friendly seis definite cuts in pay. In addition, it is difficult to resist the conclu embodied in the Estimates for thetanse, rendered spontaneously and overbonds, have been redicci by a 1 200 that the encimunity's demand ́irst time, are particularly helpful, promptly, exemplifies the truth of reduction in staff. According to for greater eponomy in the Colony's

But 17 vonture" to think that the the lines: in faith nad hope the the Government proposal, salaries administrative expenditure leofulness at the second statement world will disagree-But all man- of Civil Servante will no from been ignored. would have been greatly enhanced, kind's concern is charity: 271 January 1 next be paid at Tree- (Gontinued on Page 8).

has

HEALTH

DEPENDS

ON a properly balanced diet. ables and fruit

are rich in certain essential vitamins and mineral salts,

which are found in no other foods. These vitamina and salts are even more nessasary to health when the blood has been thinued during the hot

summer months.

EVERY MOTHER HAS TO FACE THIS

PROBLEM!

here are practically no fresh vegetables

got at this time of the year, and it Small T wonder if the children refuse the tasteless string beans and marrow t

that you are forced to offer them. But give them a dish of real beans, sweet young pens, delicious corn on the cob, young tender carrot,, tomatoes or beet from a GOLD BAR tinthey won't refuse that, and you

will SEE how the salts and vitamins are

of

patting roses on to their cheeks f

GOLD

BAR

VEGETABLES

ARE

RICHEST IN VITAMINS.

SPECIAL OFFER DURING OCTOBER

10%

on

6

discount

or more tins.

THE NUMBER CAN BE MADE UP

Your

AS YOU WISH.

Guarantee

GOLD BAR

Purity.

LANE, CRAWFORD, LTD.

Dept.

Tel. 281537