488
THE POS! OFFICE STAFF.
(Daily Press, 18th June.) In the annual report of the Postmaster General it is stated that of twenty-eight clerks employed on the 31st December last eleven had under one year's service. The
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[June 17, 1899.
new houses will have a ventilating, mends would be safe. That water runs to shaft. In a letter published in another waste in
ne colony from June to October column, Messrs. Leigh and Orange, the does not appear to have any bearing on the architects of the property, take exception to ense; the question is, what would be the Mr. OSBORNE's remarks, but on one import effect of having a large number of water ant point the two parties are in substantial closets in the colony towards the close of agreement. Messrs LEIGH and ORANGE, | the dry season, when the water supply is wages paid to Post Office clerks on joining, | while claiming that the new houses will be turned on only for one hour per day? more sanitary than the old ones, admit that | Having a cistern on the roof would be of no that is a matter of opinion, but they say they use then, because there would
€
no water
820 a month, we are told in another para- graph, are not such as to attract men who intend to remain in the service. Nearly "all the applicants are boys from school can only take notice of the existing laws in it. The amount of water annually con- Mr. OSBORNE made just the same point. It sumed by water closets may bear a very "The best and brightest of them just stay
was the fashion, he said, to blame the land-small proportion to the total supply and long enough to begin to be useful and lords for the surface crowding, for building not be worth consideration from that point "then, in the language of their letters of houses which experience and common sense resignation, having prospects of better condemn as unhealthy, whilst others blame “ pay and promotion,' they go." In the the Government for having allowed such a Postal service at home most of the appli-state of affairs to become possible; but it had cants are boys and girls fresh from school, always seemed to him that the question of but there is this difference between England blame might very well be left out of the and Hongkong, that whereas in the former a discussion, as we are more concerned in
of view; but it a serious matter to have
unflushed water closets, and any year may happen towards the close of the dry season that the water supply can be turned day. If sea water on only for an hour a were pumped up for flushing purposes the objection on the score of the water supply that case the Sanitary Board might safely grant all the applications that are sent in.
young person who has been admitted to join providing a remedy than finding a sapegoat. would disappear, and in w
.6
Landlords," he continued, “are-not more | depraved than any other class, and they "willgo just so far as the laws permit. Senti- "ment does not enter into their calculations any more than it does into any other line
8
the service finds it is his or her interest to re- main in it, in Hongkong a large proportion only stay long enough to gain a little office
ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND THE experience and then seek other appoint-
COLONIAL FINANCES ments, which they seem to have but little
(Daily Press, 15th June.) difficulty in finding. Whether this un-of business, and it seems idle and useless popularity of the service is due to the
"to rail against them for making the ut
The remarks made by the Hon. R. D. rate of pay or to the duties being dis- "most gain out of their properties. If by ORMSBY, in his annual report, on the con- tasteful, or to a combination of these and so doing they are endangering the health struction of roads are both interesting and other causes, the result is altogether lament-
"of the community it is the duty of the instructive. The present Director of Public able to the public interest. It appears that "Government to prevent them." Works, unlike his predecessor in office, is a Captain HASTINGS has submitted to the Go Mr. OBORNE says, sentiment does not
great advocate of the opening up of the vernment a report, which has not been published, on the reorganisation of the enter into business, and if the law allows Colony by means of roads. He is confident an objectionable class of building it is Post Office staff. It may be assumed
certain that such buildings will be erected that the road is the precursor of progress, that this report would be characterised if they yield a profit. But while Mr. that it will lead to a demand for land, that it will open up building sites, that it will by Captain HASTINGS's usual sound com-
OSBORNE contends that grave evil exists mon sense. It is patent to all that re- and that not even the landlords would generally inaugurate development. He pay roads have already commenced to p organisation is very much required, and it is to be hoped that the report will not be oppose new legislation dealing fairly and quotes figures to show that recently made impartially with the question, Mesars
themselves by the receipt of premium on pigeon holed, but that, on the contrary; LEIGH and ORANGE contend that the present land sales and the securing of Crown rents Captain HASTINGS may be accorded all
laws are sufficient and that in houses built and taxes in the future. Throughout this reasonable facilities for bringing his depart according to the present laws the danger of
portion of Mr. OuмBBY's report, however, ment into a satisfactory condition. Some plague lies in the condition the houses are
there is a strong note of disappointment. A expense will be involved, no doubt, but allowed to be kept in and not in their plan- every turn he fin is his plans and projects seeing that the department made a profit
ning or constructión. The condition the
crippled by want of funds, and works which of nearly $100,000 last year there can be houses are kept in is, of course, of great should be pressed on with all possible ex- no excuse for starving it. Strictly speaking importance, but where there is overcrowd-pedition will have to be hung up inde- the Post Office ought not to be looked uponing and an inadequate supply of light and finitely, waiting for a vote. This is, it as a source of revenue, but under existing air it is impossible to keep the houses in a
must be confessed, most disheartening and circumstances the money is no doubt very thoroughly sanitary condition, no matter discouraging. How this dearth of funds welcome to the Government. There can be how rigid the system of inspection that may acts is well shown in the following re- no excuse, however, for trying to squeeze be in force. The question therefore turns ference. The Director of Public Works the uttermost farthing out of it at the mainly on surface crowding. In the new
says, after quoting the financial success cost of efficiency. A new building is
houses to which Messrs. LEIGH
of the Barker Road at the Paik:- urgently required, as has long been recog ORANGE's application refers what will he "The same
is true in Kowloon; us nised. Unfortunately there is no inmed the population per aere when the houses "Station Street North on the West side iate prospect of that want being' supplied,
are all fully occupied?
“and Hok Un Road on the East, have been owing to the Colonial Office's veto on the hundred persons to the acre is the maximum;
pushed forward, applications for land prosecution of expensive public works at
in Hongkong the population ruus_in_parts have come in. The first named road has present, but there is no reason why steps should not at once be taken to place the up to nearly a thousand an acre. If Messrs.now been carried about half way across staff on an efficient basis. In any case the LEIGH and ORANGE's houses approximate | « the tidal flat nt Taikoktsui, it will prob··· any such figure as the latter, they may be perfectly legal, but they will not sanitary.
work of training the new clerks will take some years, which is all the more why no time should be lost in making a
commencement.
SURFACE CROWDING.
(Daily Press, 10th June;)
reason
and
In London two
16
be
"
*
At
ably in time be a great trunk rond into China, crossing through one of the low gaps near Laichikok and thence down "the Shatin Valley to Mirs Bay, Taipohu, THE WATEK-CARRIAGE SYSTEM.
"and to Shamchun. Yet only the balance (Daily Press, 10th June.)
**of 1898, amounting to $3,902, is available The Director of Public Works made out “for expenditure on this important bighway “in 1899.” If, however, there are no funds a strong case, at the meeting of the Sanitary Board on Thursday, in favour of the adoption available to carry on this absolutely neces- At the meeting of the Sanitary Board on Thursday Mr. OSBORNE again Ufought for of the water carriage system for certain sary work, it is the business of the Govern- undertaking in the full ward the question of surface crowding, in classes of European property. We agreement to get thein and menntime authorise connection with an application that had with Mr. ORMBBY in regarding it as a more the progress of the
cleanly, convenient, nul healthy system knowledge that the funds will be forth- been received for permission to re-than the pail system, and would go farther coming. It is ridiculous that the Go-
private streets and lanes, and in t
the course of his speech he than he does and, if the water supply were vernment of a wealthy Colony should Work which is so es made some remarke condemnatury of the adequate, advocate the adoption of trough | hesitate to authorise the continued vigorous
closets for all the public, latrines in the execution of â publican class of property it is proposed to erect on the land. The proposal is, we gather, to colony. The water supply, however, is sential to the New Territory as a trunk romil replace two-storey houses by four-storey
not entirely convince us that work is needed, first for the preservation of houses and to do away with certain
adoption of the water carriage sys-order, next for reulering the territory Cam aven to the limited exteut he recom- accessible and opening it up for the city and
range certain d
the
lanes, in place of which each of the thes lifficulty, auf Mr. ORM-BY's | affording means of communication. This
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