1933-10-12 — Page 5

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1933.

CLAIM FOR NEW ASSESSMENT TAX SYSTEM Whiteaways

HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK'S SPEECH

(Continued from Page 1.)

we hope that its erection will not remain marely plous hope for many years to come as hus happen- ed in the case of the new Gaol, the now Government Civil Hospital, the new Central British School and other projects which have hung fire for so long in the past after baying been approved of in prin

·ciple,

SITE SCANDAL Central British School Revelations

7

in regard to the new Contral British School, this seems a con- venient point to interpose some words of criticism.

On the 22nd September, 1932, in the debate on the Budget for 1933

Hongkong (300

Hansard for 1982, at pago 154) the then acting Colonial Secretary, the Honourable Mr. E. R. Hallifax, said:-

INVESTIGATION URGED.

the now scheme for Sub-Inspectors The principle of paying Increns. Harbour, to keep to a proper re- dons within certain prescribed in the Cantonese contingent, fed Military Contribution because guinṛ schedule of times, thereby hours, and done at high pressure, We regret that some moro we have to raise additional ro-causing gravo inconvenlonce to It has been a marvel to me how suitable name cannot be devised to venue to pay for necessary publie passengers going to and from their it could have been performed so indicate the "Upper Levela Police works extraordinary is so obvious-offices, Station", as there are so many ly unsound that I do not think that other higher levels than its pro-any. Member of this Council will posed site on Hospital Rond.

Prisons Department No comments on the Govern ment proposals.

cfciently by just four men undor the Chinese Assistant; and this) absence of aortous mistakes and be found to support it.

In Kowloon special'griavances complaints is a standing tribute to The full absurdity of the post-have recently been ventilated in the ability and tact of Mr. Lau tion is brought out by the fact the South China Morning Post, Tsz-ping and his junior colleagues. that the Milliary Contribution is namely the insufficiency of buses on now four times what it was in certain routes at certain hours. MR.. WOOD'S RETIREMENT.

1010.

PUBLIC WORKS.

1

- We trust that the Government

It may not be out of place hore will fully investigate the above to refer to the impending retire matters with a view to their bement of my honourable friend, Mr. ing remedied as it is so obvious. A. E. Wood, Secretary for Chinese ly necessary that the regularity Affairs. The Chinese members of and efficiency of public utility Council heard the announcement, companies ahould, in theins did the whole Chinese com- interests of the public, be fully munity, with more than ordinary maintained.

MEDICAL PRUNING.

We regret to learn, from the Honourable Colonial Secretary's The Unofficial noto with plea- Speech, that it has been thought sure that the action of the Polo necessary to prune so excessively Club in kindly consenting to a the Medical Department Esti-transfer of their Polo Ground at mates, and in particular we regret Causeway Bay to Kowloon has re- that the Dispensary Launch and leased the present Polo Ground the additional Sister for Publica Recreation Ground for the use Health work and the Staff of four of His Majesty's Navy. Chinese Health Nurses to make a As regards the now Government start with Health Visiting and House and City Development, the DR. Instruction, have been abandoned. Unomictals approve generally of the proposed scheme but would venture to advocate:

But, in particular, we regret the parsimony which is p parently being practised in re- gard to the expenditure on the Malurin Bureau.

So far as we can ascertain (from page 31 of the Estimates) there is only one trifling small; The Government has selected item of additional expenditure for the Government Civil Hospital, the the Malaria Staff, namely 1 Pro- Central British School and the bationer Inspector with a salary of Kowloon Hospital as the object# 5525 per aÚNS. • on which attention should most immediately be concentrated."

The resulta of that concontra- MALARIA AT SHING

tion na regards the site for the new

·Central British School have been particularly disappointing.

DISGRACE,

MUN

Our chief cause for anxiety in this connection, which is based In view of the fact that the upon reports from time to time site, which had been originally leaking through, is the apparently selected for the School, had considerable rate of sickness from tnotwithstanding repented pro-malarla amongst the coolies work- tests from the Kowloon Residents (ing in the Shing Mun Valley. Association) at the time when the The Shing Mün Dam is only then Acting Colonial Secretary mentioned ohee In the acting mads the above remarks, been at

ready appropriated as a site for

the

site?

They are almost, unbelievable.

earried out.

nny

(1) That the new Government Ofices should contain a suitably large room for II.E. the Governor

Collection Library and other books (1) That room for the Leading removed from the City Hall Library will be found in the new City Hall.

regret, for Mr. Wood, during his long association with the Secre tariat, has won the high esteem KOTEWALL ON and admiration of all those who

know him.

OUTLOOK

(Continued "from Pago 1.)

the h

The announcement came surprise to the Chinese community, though not to me personally, for I had for some time known that he had been contemplating retire- mont on grounds of health. My

to interview people, especially as vinced me that the Budget is for his present Office in the present from being colourless, even though Chinese colleagues and 1 sincerely Government House will then no it cannot be said to be colourful. hope that Your Excellency may longer be available,

CLEAR PERSPECTIVE.

find it possible to prevail upon Mr. Wood to suspend his application. broad, principles for the Govern-piration of his leave of absence By confining his speech to the for retirement until after the ex- ment's financial policy and the which may, as we enrnestly hope, more important, changes in the restore him to such a state of We note with regret that it is draft Estimates, fonving details to health as may induce him to accedo proposed to drive a new rond of be dealt with in the memoranda to the very urgent wish of the apparently much greater width and the foot-notes, the Hon. Mr. Chinese community that he should than the present right of way on Tratman has succeeded in present-remain in his post for a few more the North side of St. John's Cathedral, which new Read, by its ling to the public a clear perapec-years. Mr. Wood being only 49, tenter encouragement. of motor hive of our economie altuntion. {the prolongation of his servich for On the Revenue side of the draft a few more years would not be an trame, would tend to interfere with Estimates there is only one item-undue obstacle to the advancement the quiet which is so necessary to

"Assessed Taxes"-on, which If his junior colleagues, while it the Services of the Cathedral.

have a few remarks to offer. In would be to the best interest of spite of those hard times, with the Colony. innumerable vacant shops and The Acting Auditor's Report for tenement houses in all parts of the

AUDITOR'S REPORT.

STRANGE SYSTEM.

only

Colonial Secretary's speech at 1032 (in addition to raising some Colony, this item shows an in- Under Harbour Dupartment. page 23) hut the water shortages points of technical accounting) crease of $200,000; and the ex-Special Expenditure, on page 29, now Montal Hospital, one of the past few years have been mentions two points upon which inlanation given in the foot-notes is arah appears the item "Training!

make

to we feel bound

comment Normal Increase." would have thought that the very sufficiently serious to

specifically,

Expenses for Assistant Govern- least that the Government should neglect by the Government to

The first and most importanl

EMPTY HOUSES.

ment Marino Surveyor in Eng- have done would have been to let naure, to the best of its ability,

land." The amount required in out the contract for the site farm-that there shall be no delay in con-point (see paragraph af of the Report) is the loss of $314,447.02

Allowing for the new houses 1934 is $7,680. In connexion with tion of the new substituted site struction which is due to prevent which the Government has suffer- that have been erected since the the Budget for the year 1982, the for the new Central British School able causes, liable to severe djed on a sterling contract for re- last Budget was passed, we must honourable senior unomcial mem- 118 soon as possible after the 22nd verse comment.

We would therefore ask for amittances to the Crown Agents for not forget the equally large number, on behalf of the whole un- September, 1932, and thus remove

er of old houses which, on the othelal body, said that the system as speedily as possible the dis definile reply from the Govern-the Cotonles.

In connexion with this loss the other hand, have been vacaton. It of training men after they had grace of British childron in this ment as to whether every one of

is an unchallenged fact that at this been engaged, in order to qualify Colony continuing for one moment the requirements of the Honour-Auditor reports:---

"The Government has been re-moment there are more empty them for their work, accmed to. be longer than was necessary to be able the Director of Medical and

this Department to houses or flats than there were at one that was open to condemau- taught in the higgiedy-piggiedy Sanitary Services and of the quired by

was not only un- and far too small congerie of Mainriologist in regard to Malaria-obtain the Secretary of State's this time last year, and my Chinese tion, and that buildings which form the present prevention in the Shing Mun Valley covering approval for making for colleagues and I are driven to the economical but did not conduce to have been fully carried out and, if ward sterling constracts, as this is conviction that the Increase in efficiency. He further expressed Central British School.

But what are the facts as to the not, for what reasons these re- departure from the recornised revenue is due not so much to the hope that in future

would be site formation of the new school quirements have not been fully Treasury practice. In connection normal development as to the properly qualified men

with the loss on this contract. the higher ratable values placed onlengaged. I have been unable to Government has also been request tenement houses by the Assessor'a trace any reply by the Government ed by this Department to ask the Office. This action has had an to this comment. The system is I have recently learned, as the

Treasurer how he has shown this adverse effect on the Colony, in certainly expensive, costing the result of inquiries, that the con- Also, we should like to be in-loss in his account, but no reply that the higher the assessment, Colony from nearly $8,000 to $9,- tract for the site formation of the formed, in connection with the has been received. Further, there the higher becomes the rental, 2000, according to the rate of ex- new site for the new School was Shing Mun Dam, whether the re does not appear to have been uns, that the increased burden aitirate change ruling at the time, to give -only-signed-on-the-30th May cent decision to locate the Dam notification to this-Department of ly falls on the tenants

this year, and that the contract below the Falls is ikely to prolong the signing of this contract". stipulates 15 months for the the contract time for the comple- The Unofficial. Members would; completion of such site formation of the work and also the date be glad if the Honourable the when that contract time will nowColonial Treasurer would reply tu

In this connection the Hongkong penditure, that reason should, "I So much for Government con-expire,.

the statements of the Acting and Kowloon Property Owners As-subniit, be given to this Council. 'In addition, we should like to Auditor.

sociation has recently made repre- centration.

JUVENILE OFFENDERS, know how soon' the Colony may Also, in connection with par-sentations to the Chinese members expect to derive substantial graph of the Auditor's Report, of the two Councils asking that the On page 51 of the draft Estim- benefit from the impounding of we should be glad to know from Government be requested to grant ates provision is made for the ex- water by the partial construc; the Honourable the Acting Director certain alleviations, even tempora-penses of the Juvenile Offenders In connection tion of the Dam.

of Public Works why a healty of rily, by a reduction in the rates. Remand Home. only $1,820 was enforced against and by separata assessment for with this matter, may I enquire the contractor in question instead each floor in 1 houses which are when the Juvenile Court will com- let by the floor, each having access mence to function? The Juvenile of the full penalty of $5.740.

to a common stalreuse.

Offenders Ordinance was passed its After careful consideration my long ago as the 11th February, Chinese colleagues and I cannot 1932, and it would be of interest

tion,

AIR SERVICES.

In regard to Air Services, ive would echo the hope, expressed by the Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, that vory shortly agreements, on a mutually reciprocal and beneficial basis, will be arranged with the Chinese Authorities.,

DAM LOCATION.

HARBOUR PIPE-LINE.

In connection with the 2nd cross-Harbour Pipe-Line, which would have been quito useful dur-

We approve of the proposed re-ing the recent few months for vival of the Flying' Club.

LEGAL DEPARTMENTS.

conveying surplus Kowloon water

BUS SERVICES

to the Island, we beg leave to point Official Investigation

1929 (see

With regard to the section in out that such a 2nd Pipe-Line was the Acting Colonial Secretary's suggested by the Unofficial Mem- Speech which deals with Legal bers as far back as Departments, we submit that two Hansard 1929 at page 101) but was new Solicitors, with the necessary then negatived by the Government, legal qualifications and with age on the ground that the Pipe-Line

years

Urged

OWNERS' CLAIMS.

training-to-one-single Assistant; Government Marine Surveyor If there is good reason for this ex-

support the plea for a reduction, in to know what are the causes which

rates, for the simple reason that have hold up the implementation of the Budget has to be balanced, and this very necessary legislation. that if the rates were reduced

CHINESE POLICE.

·And, lastly, we come to the sub-other forms of taxation, perhaps Ject of the Bits Service.

more burdensome to the people. The Hon. Colonial Secretary in At first, no doubt, there was would have to be imposed to en-his Budget speech invited atten- every disposition on the part of the able the Government to carry on. tion to the new grade of Sub of practical experience, was an experiment (Hansard, ge bus-using public to adopt rather

Inspector in the Chinese Polico SEPARATE ASSESSMENT. a lenient view of the shortcomings |

Contingent, and said that it was ought to be engaged at once from 110).

We would also enquire whether of the new services on both sides. England,

We do, however, comment to the hoped "to recruit for these posta One of such Officers is required it is impracticable to complete of the Harbour, having regard to to replace the late Mr. Agassiz, that Pipe-Line and its necessary the fact that now Companies were sympathetic consideration of the young men of good education who request for will, after a few years probation- The engagement of the second connecting plpes by the end of taking over these services and that Government the of such Officers is rendered neces- 1934 instead of at some date in It was only fair to give, then separate assessment for each Boorary training, be competent to take Eary by the following facts, 1935 (sou Estimates, page 114):

suficient time to get into their as a temporary measure of relief their place in the commissioned to the people: Only recently ranks.". He went on to any that Jamely-

Such lenient considerations have heard that the owner of a"nitherto recruitment has only. ure, however, now no longer house which was partly empty, boon of men who, however officient oppilcuble seeing that these now found it cheaper to give notice to they may be in other respects, are bus services have already been quit" to the remaining tenants, an not the true that makes Assistant running for four months. na to leave the whole house vacant, Superintendents." It is a matter

(1) That one of the Officers In one of the Legal Departments, who

CHARITABLE SERVICES. The Unolicial Members cordial- ly agree with the Government's

atride.

is now home on leave, bas, during nugaration of a Fund to moet his recent term of service in this "the wide and increasing distress Colony, been suffering from bad which the bad times have brought health, and

At the commencement of the which would enable him to obtain of gratification to the Chinese com- (II) By the fact that the Officers.pon Officers of the Mercantile

Maring".

new services, constant brenk- ja refund of the rates paid. Under munity that this important open- In the Legal Departments are

of buses They also approve of the pro-downs

took place, the present system tonement Ing has been made to the Chinese. compelled to work long hours in. order to keep them abreast of their posed establishment of a Royal vapocially when going up Garden houses are assessed as a whole, It is our hope and belief that

Naval Volunteer Reserve,

Road, and, even recently, break and no refund of rates is made for sumcient qualified candidates will tasks, and that, although they are

downs on Garden Road still occur, vacant floors. With this subject be forthcoming, and that the ap most of them no longer young, no

whereas such breakdowns under the Hon. Mr. T, N. Chau will, Ipointees will prove themselves provision whatever is made for

The Unofficials are glad to note the regime of the Hongkong understand, deal in greater detall. worthy of these positions of occasional sickness in their ranks that by friendly agreement with Hotel Company were practicnily

reduction has unknown. or for any vacation leave.

the War Ofice a Looking ahead a few years, we boon obtained in regard to certain would add that the work of the items chargeable to Military Con Land Office and also of the tribution. Registry of the Supreme Court is

- MILITARY CONTRIBUTION.

Thoir congratulations on this

LOW WAGES,

CHINESE CENSORS.

grcator responsibilities now offer- ed to the Chinese community for

HARBOUR DREDGING:

On the Expenditure side of the the first time in the history' of draft Estimates, several matters Hongkong. If such breakdowns are in any call for remarks and comments.

Under Pubile Works Extra- in our opinion of such an in-point are, however, somewhat tom-way attributable to the obtaining In connexion with the items portant character, from the publie pared by the reflection that such of less experienced drivers at "Chinese Assistant" and "Chinese point of view, that a Legal Oficer Military Contribution in the year lower wages, then such saving has Press Censora" in the Secretariat ordinary on page. 104 appears the should be engaged from England 1910 amounted to less than $1,400,- beon distinctly false economy, both for Chinese Affairs, I desire to pay itom "Dredging," the estimated for the Posts of Assistants in the 000 and that the Unofficial Mom- from the point of view of the a long-dolayed tribute to theee of cost of which is $320,000, and the Land Omeo and the Registry bors unanimously advocated by Company and also of the travell-ficers for the manner in which they proviefour made for next year in respectively, to arrive out here for Motion in this Council, which was ing public who have a right to have discharged their onerous $224,000. In the Notes on Public at least a year prior to the retire-defeated by the Official Vate, In expect a punctual and emclent duties, No one outside the Do- Works Extraordinary prepared by partment knows more than I do-the Hon. Director of Public Works mont of the present Land Officer the year 1911 (ace Hansard 1911, service. and Registrar respectively; the ungo 102 et sec.) that the Military Another complaint which has for I Had some direct association it is stated that a portion of this laws and also conditions in this Contributions should be limited to boon voiced in the columns of the with the work of Chinesa Press cost will be borne by the Admiralty. Colony being, different from thosen fixed annual sum of $1,000,000 local Prose, and which is doubtloss censorship in the troublous years of and the Hongkong and Kowloon whereas in the present year, 1933, also due, in a measure, to drivera the General Strike and Boycott in Wharf and Godown Co., Ltd.. As Police Department

It is cstimated that that contribu-having Insufficient exporlonce, fa 1925 and 1920-what a dificult and the sum involved is large, it would

(Continued on Pago ). The proposed now appointments tion will amount to over $6,600,-the-failure of the buses, especially thankless task these Consors have interest the public to know the

on the Hongkong side of the to perform. The work has to bo nest with our approval, as also 000.

at Home.

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