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December 9, 1896.).
MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed...
- FINANCE, Finance minute No. 27 was referred to the Finance Committee, and the report of the Finance Committee was adopted.
TAIPINGSHAN,
Hon T H. WHITEHEAD gave notice of the following question-Will the Government lay upon the table an estimate as to the probable total cost of doing what is necessary to be done to the resumed area of Taipingshan before the lets can be put up to. auction, and state the further probable time required to overtake the work?
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- THE OPIUM FARM.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD gave notice of the following question-In view of the present Opium Farm expiring in the spring of 1898, will the Government appoint a commission with fall powers to investigate and report on the opium revenue generally, and upon the advisability or otherwise of substituting for the present Opium Farm bonded warehouses and a fixed duty on all opium not bona fide exported in a raw state.
It
THE MILITARY CONTRIBUTION BILL. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I rise to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to appropriate a percentage of seventeen and a half per centum of the Colonial revenues As a contribution for the defence of the colony. As I addressed the Council at some length at our last meet- ing I propose only to say a few words now in order to remove a curious-misapprehen. sion which would appear to have arisen. has been suggested, sir, in some quarters that by the remarks which I made at the last meet- ing of this Council I intended to throw some doubt upon the patriotism of some of the mem- bers of the Council. I can only say that I entirely repudiate any such idea; such a notion never entered into my head for a single instant. On the contrary, I expressly appealed to those feelings of patriotism which I felt confident must animate the unofficial members of the Council equally with myself. I should like in conclu- sion, sir, to say a few words in order to remove 8 misapprehension which may possibly exist upon another point. I desire to say, for the in- formation of the members of this Council and the public, that in the remarks which I made at the last meeting of this Council I spoke entire- ly without any communication whatever either with your Excellency or with any other mem- ber of this Council. I only expressed, what I conceive I had a perfect right to express, my own personal views as an individual member of this Council. I feel very strongly, sir, upon the Imperial aspect of this question, an aspect which I fear is in danger of being somewhat disregarded, and it was for that reason, sir, that I ventured to lay before the Council at the last meeting the convictions I entertained and the reasons for which I entertained those convictions. With these remarks, sir, I beg to move the second reading of this Bill.
The COLONIAL £ECRETARY seconded.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-I ask your Excellency put the resolution to the fote. The resolution was then put with the follow. ing result-
FOR
AGAINST
Hon. Wei A Yuk Hop. E. R. Belilios The Captain Superin- Hon. T. H. White-
tendent of Police
head Hon. Ho Kai
The Harbour Master
The Director of Public Hon. C. P. Chater
Works
The Acting Colonial
Treasurer
The Acting Attorney-
General
The Colonial Secretary
His Excellency the
General
Bill read the second time.
Conncil went into Committee on the Bill. On clause 3 being read as follows—“ The Colonial revenues for the purposes of this Ordinance shall include the gross receipts by the colony from all sources of revenue, but include the proceeds of land sales and
premia on leas
Họn T. H. WHITEHEAD proposed the ad-
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
dition of the words “which in its character is not purely municipal” after the words “sources of revenue."
Hon. Ho KAI seconded.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD remarked-I think it is well that hon, members should know that 17 per cent. of our gross revenue, less land sales, is a higher percentage than is paid by any other Crown colony in her Majesty's dominions. Why should this colony be asked to pay such an exorbitant sum? Å large portion of the revenue is derived from productive public works, to carry out which we had to borrow money and that borrowed money has not yet been repaid to the lenders. The amendment was then put to the vote.
FOR.
Hon. Wei A Yuk
Hon. E. R. Belilios Hon. T. H. Whitehead
Hon. Ho Kai
Hon. C. P. Chater
AGAINST.
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anged dig
bodies a convenient and well of the principal rules of law relating to ships, and this. Bill is almost cript of its provisions, very slight modi having been required to adapt stances of the colony.
to the circumö-
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Bill read the second time and referred Law Committee.
the
THE POST OFFICE ORDINANCE. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL I beg to move the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to further amend "The Post Office Ordinance, 1887." The objects and reasons of this Bill are attached and I have nothing to add.
TREASURER
The ACTING
COLONIAL
Bill read the second time.
The Captain Superin-seconded.
endent of Police The Harbour Master The Director of Public
Works
The Acting Colonial
Treasurer
Council went into Committee on the Bill. Bill read clause by clause.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I think it is very mischievous to place the power to punish any officer of the Post Office except the
The Acting Attorney. Postmaster-General in the hands of Assistant
General
The Colonial Secretary H.E. the General
therefore lost and
The amendment was the clause was carried.
Clause 5 read-"The said percentage shall be deemctl to be a fixed contribution payable by the colony in full return for the annual cost of the Imperial garrison, including the cost of main- tenance of all military works and buildings, but not including any capital expenditure re- quired for military lands and buildings, pro- vided that in no year shall the sum paid by way of percentage exceed the cost of the garrison
for that year."
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD suggested the addition of the words nor cost of armament" after the words "military lands and buildings" A vote was taken, the result being the same as in the previous vote.
The
ACTING COLONIAL. TREASURER-I sug. think the title is rather tautological and gest that the words "a percentage" be struck 'a sum equivalent to ". out and that the words be substituted.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to second. The alteration was agreed to. Council resumed.
the third reading of the Bill.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I think the third reading of the Bill may be held over until the next meeting of the Council. We have only had a few days to consider this measure. Our last meeting was on the 3rd and to-day is the 7th. I think the amendments are worthy of
further consideration.
His EXCELLENCY-I will send the amend-
ments home to the Secretary of State, but there
can be no further discussion on the Bill now.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to second the third reading of the Bill. There have been no material alterations made. Amendments have been suggested, but not carried.
Hon, T. H. WHITEHEAD pointed out that the standing rules stated that the third reading could not be taken on the same day as the second reading if any member objected.
His EXCELLENCY-I understand the hon. member does object to the third reading.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I do object. His EXCELLENCY--I do not think we can object to that.
Bill held over.
THE APPROPRIATION BILL. The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to move the second reading of the Bill entitled An Or- dinance to apply a sum not exceeding Two Million Three hundred and Fifty-nine thous and Seven hundred and Eighty-nine Dollars to the Public Service of the Year 1897.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER-I beg to second.
Bill read a second time and referred to the Finance Committee.
THE PARTNERSHIP ORDINANCE. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to declare and amend the Law of Part- nership. The object of this Ordinance is to in- troduce into this colony the provisions of the Im- perial Partnership Act of 1890. That Act em-
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Post- master-General. The accuser in most cases would be the Postmaster and he would be the judge of what he accuses the individual, · Hồ would decide and there would be no appeal to any Court. I submit it would be very much better for the Postmaster-General to take the cases before the Police Magistrate and allow him to decide in the ordinary way.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER-Mis- conduct cannot be taken before the Police Magistrate. There is no law regulating misconduct.
is
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-In all offices there misconduct and I submit we can control mis- conduct in the Post Office without imposing fines. The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER-The Captain Superintendent of Police and the Gaol Superintendent have similar
powers. Hon. Ho KAI-The hon. member might devote his attention to the third paragraph, which reads, The imposition of every such punishment shall be reported without delay to` to the Governor, who shall have power, if he thinks fit, to remit such fine either wholly or partially." If any injustice is done I am sure his Excellency will hear of it.
44
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER-I think the hon. member mistakes the position entirely. The Postmaster-General would not in one instance in a hundred know anything about the case in respect of which a man was reported. The report would be made by the chief clerk or the clerk in charge of the department in which the offence was committed. I would again point out that the Captain Sup- erintendent of Police and the Gaol Superin tendent have the same powers.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Have those
powers worked satisfactorily in the gaol ?
His EXCELLENCY-Has there been constant neglect of duty in the Post Office?
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER-Con- stant petty neglect-not sufficient to warrant a man being dismissed. It is a great nuisance getting a new man.. A small finė, judiciously. applied, will, I think, have a good effect.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-There is no power to impose a fine exceeding $10.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I do not think as a principle it is advisable to extend this system. throughout the Colonial service; it is rather unconstitutional.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER—The system is in force at home certainly in money order offices.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-This Bill applies to the Superintendent in the money order office and the Superintendent in the registration office?
.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER—If they misbehave themselves they will be fined,
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD—I move that the Bill he read this day six months,
Hon. WEI A YUK seconded.” The amendment was put, but only the proposer aud seconder voted for it.
Council resumed and the Bill was read the third time..
COMPENSATION TO TAWNBROKERS BILL.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAT ber to move the second reading of the Bill.
provide for com An Ordinance
stion
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