Sessional_Paper_1895 — Page 251

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At Hongkong for the same period, the number of vessels for survey was 112, with a gross tonnage of 201,600 tons, and indicated horse power of 140,000. For this work we have one surveyor and one assistant surveyor.

Thus at Liverpool there are about 40 vessels of 92,000 tons per surveyor, at Cardiff 27 vessels of 53,000 tons, while at Hongkong, with all its disadvantages of climate, &c., we have 56 vessels of over 100,000 tons to each surveyor.

A consideration of these facts can, I think, only lead to an improvement in the pay of our Surveyors or an increase in the staff.

LIGHTHOUSES.

34. The amount of dues collected was as follows:-

Class of Vessels.

Rate per ton.

No. of ships.

Total Tonnage.j fees

collected.

$ C.

Ocean vessels paying full dues,

24 conts. 2,865 3,572,535 89,313.16

Launches paying full dues,

do.

64 1,805 45.07

River Steamers (Night Boats),

CON

eent.

551

525,647 3,506.19

Launches plying exclusively to Macao,.

do.

132

6,622 41.29

River Steamers (Day Boats),

Free.

814 1,111,495

Launches plying to Macao by day................

do.

562

27,178

4,988 5,215,282|92,909.81

35. Under this heading I desire to make a few remarks, the gist of which have already been put forward by me in previous reports.

ور

The subject of the tax on shipping is one that, I think, deserves attention. In my opinion the pre- sent tax of "light dues is an ill-conditioned" one, and an even larger amount of revenue than at present could be collected on a more equitable basis.

The principle advocated by me presents itself more and more forcibly as exchange gets lower and lower, and it means the amelioration of "local traders."

At present all European vessels, excepting river steamers, pay a tax of 24 cents a ton, which tax is called "light dues." The revenue derived from this tax is one of the important items of the income of the Colony. It is larger than its name implies, and, "extraordinary works" excepted, it is consider- ably in excess of what is required for the maintenance of the lighthouses for which the Colony is responsible.

A larger revenue, for general purposes, might be raised, and, at the same time, a, to my mind, more equitable tax levied, by the substitution of a periodical payment, based, as light dues are, on "tonnage," but on an entirely different principle.

At the present time the local traders, whose carnings are in local currency, whose shares are held locally, and most of whom purchase their stores and supplies in the Colony, are on the same currency footing as the "trunk liners" some of whom lie here for lengthened periods paying "per entry" the same as the local traders, while the bulk of their earnings are in gold, their stores purchased in Europe or America, and probably most important consideration of all, whose owners or shareholders are not concerned with the prosperity of the trade of Hongkong beyond the extent to which for the time being it offers them a remunerative field as carriers.

"Comparisons are odious," but for purposes of illustration are nevertheless at times neccssary. I hope, therefore, I will be excused for making use of them in the present case.

A P. & 0. mail steamer enters this port and pays 2 cents a ton for that one entry, she proceeds to Shanghai and pays 66 cents a ton, this would clear her for 4 months in all Chinese treaty ports, but, as she does not go to these, it practically amounts to her entry at Shanghai, and she can only return once during the 4 months for which the "chop" holds good.