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cost of those services, the comparison of the cost of those services against the revenue to Government which they bring together with the due proportion of the rates to which we are entitled. Only if this survey shows that we as a Council are permitting the Urban Services to run at a loss, and therefore be a burden on the other forms of taxation which have nothing to do with Urban Council Services should we be invited to consider increases in taxation which would then be necessary for the purpose of our due budgeting. I appreciate in the Committee of the Whole, a majority vote has already been cast in favour of these proposals but I urge members to reconsider the decision that they took at that time, even if only on the grounds of the hardship that will be involved. On this subject Dr. Bell had already spoken at length. I appeal also to the other elected members who are not of the Reform Club to vote with us on this occasion and not to abstain or vote against us as they did in Committee of the Whole. I say to them, Mr. Chairman, that we want to know where they stand in this matter. They complain that they were not represented on the conservancy Select Committee. That, however, was a matter entirely of their own choosing: they can be represented on any Select Committee they wish, they chose the ones they wanted to sit on.
To say that they cannot reach a decision one way or another as was said in the Committee of the Whole is an extraordinary proposition. The papers were in all our hands at the same time and even allowing that there was a confusion at the time of the first Committee of the Whole meeting we feel very strongly that at least by the second Committee of the Whole meeting all members should have been in a position either to vote for or against the proposed increase in taxation. We think that it is the duty of a member of this Council where, as here, a matter of over $1,000,000.00 is involved not to sit on the fence but to come definitely down on one side or the other. We Sir, are against the proposed increases at the present time and we do not consider that any sufficient case has been made out for their imposition. We shall therefore vote against your Motion.
DR. P. F. Woo:--Since the recommendation of the Conservancy Select Committee for increasing the Conservancy Charges has come to hand, I have brought this matter to the attention of the Civic Association. I have also made personal investigation into this matter with the Urban Services Department. I have now come to the conclusion that although the Civic Association is not represented on the Conservancy Select Committee, the recommendations are sound and acceptable. I would like to specify my reasons here.
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Association is not represented on the Conservancy Select Committee, the recommendations are sound and acceptable. I would like to specify my reasons here.
First, to have this service provided efficiently at the present rate of charges, will result in a loss of 1.2 million dollars. Obviously this loss must be made up one way or another. Since only a certain section of the community benefits by this service, it must be run on a self-supporting basis, and I can see no reason why any portion of this service should be subsidized by other sections of the public or become a direct charge on the tax-payers' pockets. The loss involved might very well be used to build two new schools.
Secondly, the proposed annual increase of $20 per floor per annum means an increase of $1.67 per floor every month. The majority of the tenement flats which need this service have an average of more than 17 occupants in each flat. Thus it means that for an extra amount of less than 10 cents per person every month, greater efficiency in conservancy service will be provided. If these figures are made clear to this section of the community, they will no doubt understand the reasons for this insignificant increase.
It is essential for the hygienic conditions of the Colony that the new system of collection and disposal of nightsoil should be introduced as soon as possible. I also note that this system may result in a saving and any such saving should be passed on to that section of the community which uses the Conservancy Service.
The Civic Association members together with the other elected members have in the past supported requests for large increases in expenditure in order to improve the service of the Urban Services Department to the community and we feel that it is equally logical that, when justified, charges made by the Urban Services Department for these services should be reviewed.
We consider that charges by the Urban Services Department should be reviewed piecemeal and either raised or lowered according to their individual merits—it will be recalled that I recently raised the question of a reduction in Hawkers' licence fees which is now being considered.
1
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cost of those services, the comparison of the cost of those services against the revenue to Government which they bring together with the due proportion of the rates to which we are entitled. Only if this survey shows that we as a Council are permitting the Urban Services to run at a loss, and therefore be a burden on the other forms of taxation which have nothing to do with Urban Council Services should we be invited to consider increases in taxation which would then be necessary for the purpose of our due budgeting. I appreciate in the Committee of the Whole, a majority vote has already been cast in favour of these proposals but I urge members to reconsider the decision that they took at that time, even if only on the grounds of the hardship that will be involved. On this subject Dr. Bell had already spoken at length. I appeal also to the other elected members who are not of the Reform Club to vote with us on this occasion and not to abstain or vote against us as they did in Committee of the Whole. I say to them, Mr. Chairman, that we want to know where they stand in this matter. They complain that they were not represented on the conservancy Select Committee. That, however, was a matter entirely of their own choosing: they can be represented on any Select Committee they wish, they chose the ones they wanted to sit on.
To say that they cannot reach a decision one way or another as was said in the Committee of the Whole is an extra- ordinary proposition. The papers were in all our hands at the same time and even allowing that there was a confusion at the time of the first Committee of the Whole meeting we feel very strongly that at least by the second Committee of the Whole meeting all members should have been in a position either to vote for or against the proposed increase in taxation. We think that it is the duty of a member of this Council where, as here, a matter of over $1,000,000.00 is involved not to sit on the fence but to come definitely down on one side or the other. We Sir, are against the proposed increases at the present time and we do not consider that any sufficient case has been made out for their imposition. We shall therefore vote against your Motion.
DR. P. F. Woo:--Since the recommendation of the Con- servancy Select Committee for increasing the Conservancy Charges has come to hand, I have brought this matter to the attention of the Civic Association. I have also made personal investigation into this matter with the Urban Services Department. I have now come to the conclusion that although the Civic
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Association is not represented on the Conservancy Select Com- mittee, the recommendations are sound and acceptable. I would like to specify my reasons here.
First, to have this service provided efficiently at the present rate of charges, will result in a loss of 1.2 million dollars. Obviously this loss must be made up one way or another. Since only a certain section of the community benefits by this service, it must be run on a self-supporting basis, and I can see no reason why any portion of this service should be subsidized by other sections of the public or become a direct charge on the tax-payers' pockets. The loss involved might very well be used to build two new schools.
Secondly, the proposed annual increase of $20 per floor per annum means an increase of $1.67 per floor every month. The majority of the tenement flats which need this service have an average of more than 17 occupants in each flat. Thus it means that for an extra amount of less than 10 cents per person every month, greater efficiency in conservancy service will be provided. If these figures are made clear to this section of the community, they will no doubt understand the reasons for this insignificant increase.
It is essential for the hygienic conditions of the Colony that the new system of collection and disposal of nightsoil should be introduced as soon as possible. I also note that this system may result in a saving and any such saving should be passed on to that section of the community which uses the Conservancy Service.
The Civic Association members together with the other elected members have in the past supported requests for large in- creases in expenditure in order to improve the service of the Urban Services Department to the community and we feel that it is equally logical that, when justified, charges made by the Urban Services Department for these services should be reviewed.
We consider that charges by the Urban Services Department should be reviewed piecemeal and either raised or lowered accord- ing to their individual merits-it will be recalled that I recently raised the question of a reduction in Hawkers' licence fees which is now being considered.
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Private notes are available after approval.