1956 — Page 12

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mittee this year.

It was this: there was before the committee a long and complex paper setting out staff increases; a few items were discussed rather at random and Mr. Bernacchi then said: "Well, Mr. Chairman, do you consider that these increases are adequate?" I was able to reply only that if I had not considered them adequate the draft Estimates would have been differently framed. In the same way, Mr. Kwok, I can only say in answer to your question that in my own humble opinion this is just about what we can tackle, given support and goodwill, and a little good luck. But you have sounded a timely warning and I would like to place on record here that in my opinion this is just about all that we can do.

QUESTIONS.

MR. BERNACCHI asked the following question :—

"The open nullah in Waterloo Road appears to be a most insanitary nuisance to persons living in the neighbourhood. Will the Chairman take this matter up with the Director of Public Works, and can the Chairman make any statement on this or a later occasion as to when the nullah can be covered over ?"

THE CHAIRMAN tabled the following written reply:

"Last summer the Director of Public Works sought the advice of this Council, as well as of other interested authorities, in the drawing up of priorities for the various stages of the nullah-decking programme. In September the Scavenging and Conservancy Select Committee agreed to a priority list in which the four sections of Waterloo Road were allocated the priorities shown below:-

Section of Waterloo Road

Priority

2

Nathan Road-Peace Avenue.

4

6

Peace Avenue--Soares Avenue. Nathan Road-nullah outfall.

13

Boundary Street-Cornwall Street.

The total number of works in this list is seventeen at the present time.

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The carrying out of these works does not fall within my responsibility or that of this Council; but the Director of Public Works has agreed to let me have the estimated dates of completion for the various stages when these are known and I will see that this information is made available to the Select Committee and to any interested member."

MR. BERNACCHI asked the following question :-

"Will the Chairman request the Representative of this Council on the Traffic Advisory Board to take up with that Committee the position in respect to the new road that passes Homantin Resettlement Area and comes out very sharply into Waterloo Road? A number of accidents have occurred recently at or near the junction of these two roads which might advantageously be cut back and widened. Will the Chairman also request the Representative of this Council to take up also the fact that the road would appear to be too narrow for the amount of traffic that is now using it?"

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-

"The answer is yes, sir. The representative is not here, but the request has already been transmitted to him."

MR. BERNACCHI asked the following question :---

"What arrangements are made for the protection of Sanitary coolies of this Department when required in the course of their duties to come into contact with rubbish, nightsoil refuse dumps and the like? In particular are they issued with masks and gloves, and if not can consideration be given to doing so?"

THE CHAIRMAN tabled the following written reply:

"It is not possible in answering this question to list all the precautions taken and protective clothing and equipment used. Each task presents a special problem and every effort is made to avoid necessary risk. These matters are kept under con- stant review, and machinery exists for the staff

un-

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