November 4, 1897.]
VAGRANTS ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordin- | ance to amend the Law relating to Vagrants.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Bill read a second time.
Bill went through all its stages and passed.
ADJOURNMENT,
HIS EXCELLENCY-It is advisable to get ou with the estimates with despatch and I propose to adjourn the Council until this day week. The Finance Committee will meet now and discuss the Appropriation Bill.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was then held. Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart pre- sided and all the members were present,
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
The Appropriation Bill. The CHAIRMAN intimated that the usual course would be followed of taking the various items in the Bill item by item.
PUBLIC DEBT.
On the item, "Charge on account of Public Debt, $176,123,” being read,
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD said-In August last, Mr. Chairman. I asked for a detailed state- ment of the loan raised in 1887 and also of that raised in 1894. It was laid upon the Council table at a meeting of the Council held on the 23rd of that month, but after very careful ex- amination of the papers I was unable to say that any answer was given to my question which would enable us to ascertain the cost of the loans. Could not the Finance Committee furnish us with a more complete statement ?
The CHAIRMAN-I am sure that if the hon. member will let us know exactly what informa- tion he desires we shall be very glad to furnish him with it.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-The detaile l statement I asked for was the interest in respect of the 1894 loan. The statement supplied did not enable us to work out what interest the loans have cost us in dollars. It is an ensy matter to say the interest was 34 per cent., but it is impossible to ascertain from the statement laid on the table in August what the loans really cost.
The CHAIRMAN-If you will allow the matter to stand over we will have it gone into again if you will let us know the exact point on which you seek information, and I am
sure the Treasurer will supply you with it.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Very good.
PENSIONS.
On the item, "Pensions, $145,000,” Hou: T.H.WHITEHEAD-There is one item I should like to know something about. Sir E. L. O'Malley still draws a pension from the colony and I understand he is still in the colonial service.
The CHAIRMAN—That is 80.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD—And drawing a pension in addition to his income from the Government of the West Indies ?
The CHAIRMAN-He is drawing his pension under instructions from the Secretary of State. Thinking that this question might be asked I got the letter from the Secretary of State, which I will read for the information of the Committee.
|
CHINA ÖVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
4
GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE.
On the item, "Governor and Legislature, $42,903,"
Hon. T. H WHITEHEAD-There is an item, Water for Government House, $200." I notice the cost of water is mentioned in respect of two or three of the departments. To whom does the Government disburse this charge for water?
The CHAIRMAN-It is paid to the water au thority and credited to the water account.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Do those entries go to swell the total amount which we pay for military contribution-the 174 per cent?
The CHAIRMAN-The hon. member is quite aware of the terms on which we pay the 171 per
cent.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Do they represent the revenue Are they mere book entries con- verted into revenue?
The CHAIRMAN-Certainly. The 17 per cent. is levied on the revenue less land sales,
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD--The item is taken from one account to another and goes to increase the gross revenue, whereas no money is received. It is simply a book entry and it seems to me most unreasonable to increase the revenue by means of book entries and that 17 per cent. should be levied on it.
The CHAIRMAN-Your suggestion is that the item should be struck out?
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-It appears to me to be quite unreasonable,
343
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-In the same report the Colonial Surgeon refers to the or. dinary seaman, who receives medical attendance and accommodation at the hospital for $1 a day, which is cheaper than he could procure accommodation alone at a low class hotel. Do the Board of Trade seamen pay the same rate? The CHAIRMAN-The Harbour Master will answer that question.
The HARBOUR MASTER-There are a certain number of seamen who form Board of Trade
subjects and they pay exactly the same rate.
Hon. H. WHITEHEAD-I presume that when this scale of charges was fixed the ex- change was 38. 6d. or 4s.
The CHAIRMAN-The charge was raised about eighteen months ago.
The HARBOUR MASTER-The charge was raised from 75 cents to $1.
The CHAIRMAN-And it is the intention of the Government to raise the fees generally again. When it has been absolutely devided what the increase will be I will let you know,
Item recommended.
MILITARY CONTRIBUTION,
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD was about to ask a question on the Military Contribution when the CHAIRMAN reminded him that the item was omitted from the Bill.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL The Military Contribution Bill was passed for the express purpose of omitting the item from the Appro- The CHAIRMAN-I will have the point in-priation Bill. It was irregular to put the item quired into.
in the Bill.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I think it ought to be struck out. If it is found that it swells the revenue it should certainly be struck out. (Several hon. members: It does swell the revenue.)
The CHAIRMAN-If you will allow that point to remain over I will inquire into it further. Subject to that item being recommended the other items are recommended, I understand?
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
The CHAIRMAN-It is not before the Com- mittee.
DEFENCE WORKS.
On the item. "Contribution towards Defence Works, $30,000,"
Hon. T. H. Whitehead-Cannot we get some information with regard to the defence works?
The CHAIRMAN-The correspondence was printed and laid on the Council table. Full in-
On the item, "Public Works Department, formation was contained in that corres - $92,782,”
pondonce.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-There are several increases in this Department. At all events one of the assistant engineer's salary has been increased from $2,400 to $3,000. Was that in. crease in the agreement?
The CHAIRMAN-The application for the in- crease was considered by His Excellency the Governor, who thought the circumstances justi. fied him in acceding to the request.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Is he one of the officers whose application was referred to the Committee some time ago?
The CHAIRMAN-I understand he is. Hon. T. H. Whitehead-Might it not be well to refer the reports of that Committee to the Finance Committee?
The CHAIRMAN-As a matter of fact His Excellency the Governor decided to make the increase as in this case an explanation was made.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I would prefer that these reports be referred to the Finance Committee without asking for them. They would help us in our deliberations on the esti- mates.
The CHAIRMAN-The only one that comes before us is this increase to $3,000. Do I understand you to object?
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD--No, but I think before the item is finally passed the Finance Committee should have an opportunity of seÐ- ing these reports.
A copy of the correspondence was handed to the hon. member.
Item recommended, ́
ADJOURNMENT.
All the items having been considered the Committee adjourned.
THE CUSTODY OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS.
In answer to a question by the Hon. T. H. Whitehead the following general instructions regarding Government balances were laid on the table of the Legislative Council Monday:-
EXTRACTS FROM COLONIAL OFFICE DESPATCH No. 222 of 10TH OCTOBER, 1890.
+
on
"I will now give you definite instructions as to the limit to be placed upon Government bal- ances in the Banks, which in the last paragraph of my despatch No. 69 of 18th April last, I proposed to give as soon as I received further information as to the possibility of reducing the balance of ordinary current accounts.
"In view of the fact that the revenue of Hongkong is larger than when the limit of $200,000 was fixed as the maximum of Govern- ment balances including current account and deposits at interest and on the clear understand- The CHAIRMAN-1 will mention your wishesing that the total amount is not placed in one to His Excellency.
MEDICAL DEPARTMENTS.
I
"Downing Street, 12th February, 1895. ic Sir,-With reference to the letter from this Department of the 12th September, I am directed by the Marquess of Kipop to in form you that the salary drawn by you at the date of your retirement from the Straits On the item, "Medical Departments, $108,133." Settlements service, viz., $12,000, may be regard- Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-In connection ed as equivalent to £2,200, being converted into with this item I observe from the Colonial sterling at 38. 8d. to the dollar, the rate of Surgeon's report for this year that a first class exchange at which you draw pension from the patient in the hospital obtains accommodation, colony, and as your Hongkong and Straits medical attendance, board, including wine, for Settlements pensions are each loss than £200 a $5 per day, while in the first class hotels the It seems to year there will be no necessity under the Hong-accommodation alone is $10 a day. kong and Straits Settlements pension rules for any abatement to be made from either pension while you are drawing salary in British Guiana only at the rate of £2,000 a year. The Crown agents have been instructed accordingly.-I am.
R. EBDEN.
64
For under Secretary of State. Sir E. L. O'Malley," Item recommended.
|
Bank, I am prepared to sanction the increase of the limit of such balances to $350,000 in- cluding the Praya Fund as well as ordinary balances and deposits. Out of this amount the current account at the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank for ordinary expenditure must never exceed $125,000 but should, as a rule, not exceed $100,000; and the amounts in each of the other Banks should not exceed $75,000.
"I am not prepared to sanction any excess me that the increase in the colony is making upon the above limits so long as the balances greater demands upon the hospital than it did or deposits in the Banks are unsecured, but if formerly, and I do not quite see why the any of the Banks are willing to give security hospital should be a charitable institution. for sums in excess of such limits, I should not The CHAIRMAN-I may inform the hon.object to larger amounts being entrusted to member that the Government has considered them. the question of raising the fees and it has been "In order to prevent the necessity in future decided to raise them in view of the fact that ❘ of the current account at the Hongkong and the present rate is too low.
Shanghai Bank being raised to an excessive
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.