August 3, 1901.]
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. compelling people to go a long distance round. While, therefore, he thought that 800 yards would be a great distance to have open, he was of opinion that the matter might be referred to the Acting Director of Public Works. It was only desired that there should be certain places where people could be free to pass over, and that could easily be arranged. If such places were arranged at short intervals there seemed no reason why there should be an interval of 100 yards between the working sections. There was a mistake in Section 14. In the original Bill he rather thought the proposal
was that where two lines approached to within a distance of, say, four feet, that four feet should be concreted at the expense of the company. It was not the intention, he thought, that where one line ran along one side of the street, and another line on the opposite side the whole of the road in the centre should be concreted by the company. The idea was that where a single line be- came a double line, enclosing & space only sufficient to allow of the passing of the cars, that space should be concreted at the expense of the company. It seemed to him that that
most useful in prompting the welfare of the colony, as it would furnish a cheap means of travelling for the poorer classes, and would enable them to spread themselves out, as it were, thus relieving overcrowding in town. At the same time, unless the question of the fares to be charged to the labouring classes were settled, he could not agree to give the Bill his support. For the information of the Council he would state that for a single bed in the central part of the town a Chinese coolie would have to pay $1.80 a month, and in Wanchai something like a dollar or a dollar and ten cents, whereas in the Kennedytown district or in Quarry Bay he would only pay about sixty cents. Now, in order to enable this class to spread out of town, it seemed to him it would Lave to be made worth their while. It was only a matter of arithmetic. Estimating thirty days in the month, three cents twice a day came to $1.80, and in addition a coolie would have to pay fifty or sixty cents for lodging every night. This represented a sum that he could not afford, and if the bill was to gain the end aimed at, the clause would have to be very carefully considered, and a charge of perhaps not more than one cent made for waa a fair idea. With reference to clause 47, each journey. As the clause now stood, the his Excellency said he wished to place himself existence of the tramway would be a direct right regarding it. In the orignal Bill as encouragement to overcrowd the centre of the drafted the proposal in Section 47 was that the town. The promoters would have to be ap-5 per cent was to be paid upon net profits, and proached to agree to charge something like these net profits were defined as the sums of one cent for each journey before it could be money to be annually applied in payment of said truly that the Bill would ever benefit the dividends or bonusses, or towards a reserve frnd. colony. Otherwise it would fulfil only one On consideration it was felt that this arrange object: it would afford a means of quick travel- ment did not quite safeguard the public inter- ling to a certain class of the community who could ests, and as a way out of the difficulty his afford to pay for it, but it would do nothing Excellency wrote, after consultation with the to spread the population of the colony. In fact, Acting Attorney-General, to Mr. Boyle, who it would have just the opposite tendency, represented the promoters here, suggesting and instead of being a blessing it would be that instead of the proviso in the Bill the rather a burden on the colony. However, it capital sum to be expended upon the under. would not be fair upon the company to have taking should be taken as a basis, and that 6 them work for nothing, and it appeared to him per cent on this sum might be assumed to be that instead of charging five per cent. on the the profits on which 5 per cent. should be paid net profits of the earnings of the company, for 35 years. This would get rid of the the Government should do
away with necessity for accounting and audit. His the royalty altogether in order to procure Excellency further said he pointed out that from the company a nominal charge in this was simply a suggestion of a possible solu the fares for the labouring classes. With tion and that it was by no means certain that a two-cent fare for the double journey, the the Executive Council would approve of it, cost would only be sixty cents a month, and and as a matter of fact it was not approved, a working man could thus afford to take lodg- though Mr. Boyle expressed his intention to ings in the extreme east or west of the city, recommend its adoption to the Syndicate. The with the probability, further, of being able sum mentioned as the cost of the line was to save sixty cents by removing from the $1,700,000, which would work out to $5,100 a central portion of the town. A great incentive year or $425 a month. Now, assuming that would thus be provided for the labour- ten thousand working people used the trains ing classes to remove out of the town, daily. the royalty would only represent and that W88 the first object to be B little over one-tenth
ent for attained. There was another matter to which each passenger.
Dr. Dealing with
Ho it was desirable to make reference. Section Kai's proposal, His Excellency Was of 49 referred to a minimum night and opinion that the giving up of the royalty morning of two cars, but if the labouring on the part of the Government would not have classes were charged only a nominal fee, any practical effect. As to overcrowding, twenty cars would be a more likely minimum. the Government would not allow it, and the The question of the number of cars to be people must go somewhere. If that meant run and the time of their running should increase of rent, well, it would mean increase of be left to the Governor in Council. The Gov wages as well. However, if the giving up of ernor would then be the sole judge as to the royalty was thought likely to be of benefit, how many cars would be necessary and at he was prepared to give the matter farther what time they should run. Dr. Ho Kai con consideration. (Applause.) cluded by saying that he would support the bill through thick and thin if the promoters could meet him on the grounds he had indicated. Mr. WHITEHEAD-I cordially agree with the remarks that have fallen from Dr. Ho Kai, the hon. member opposite, and I fully concur with him in the desirability for nominal fares for the working classes, at night and in the morning, The number of cars to be run is a matter that could be settled later on. The question of the royalty to be charged by the Govern ment is 8 matter for the most serious consideration—whether the question of royalty should stand in the way of the granting of cheap fares to the poorer classes. I cordially support the suggestion that there be no royalty at all charged.
H. E. The GOVERNOR said that as the Bill was to be sent to the Law Committee he would take the opportunity now afforded him of saying something with regard to it, and of replying to the various questions that had been raised. Dealing first with paragraph No. 11, his Excellency said its object was to prevent too much space being opened up and great lengths of street made absolutely impassable, thus
of а
Mr. CHATER, for the information of Dr. Ho Kai, pointed out, with regard to the number of cars to be run, that Section 49 did not necessarily limit the number to two cars. If more were required, they would be run. Colonial SECRETARY-With regard to fare, the section says the fare is not to exceed three cents. That does not necessarily mean that three conts will be charged.
H.E. the GOVERNOR-No.
The second reading of the bill having been agreed to, Mr. CHATRR proposed that it be sent
to the Law Committee.
Mr. BELL IRVING seconded, and the motion was carried.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL suggested that Messrs. Shewan, Tomes & Company, the representatives of the promoters, should be consulted in the matter to ascertain their views on the reducing of fares for the labouring classes if the Government were willing to surrender its royalties.
This suggestion was agreed to.
THE CHARGES OF THE YEAR 1900."
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An
107
Ordinance to authorise the appropriation of a supplementary sum of five hundred and fifty- nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-on❤ dollers and seventy-eight cents, to defray the charges the year 1900.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was carried.
The ACTING Colonial Treasuree moved that the Bill be referred to the Finance Com- mittee.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was carried.
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The Council then adjourned sine die.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was - then held, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding. There were four items for the considers- tion of the Committeɔ. In the first the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $4,100 to meet the cost of railing in the openings round the cattle depôts at Ken- nedytown.
The CHAIRMAN said the recommendation emanated from the Sanitary Board, and to carry it out the sum mentioned was necessary.
The vote was agreed to.
In the next minute the Governor recommended the Council to vote the sum of $10,000 to meet the estimated cost of two self-inking embossing presses and dies, &c., for a new series of stamps, &c., for the use of the Stamp and Post Offices.
The CHAIRMAN said this matter had been brought to the attention of the Government by the committee appointed to enquire into the question of the salaries of subordinate officials of the Government, and was now referred to the Finance Committe!.
Mr. MAY-I should like to point out, in regard to the committee that is said to have first suggested this matter, that it was suggested by myself in 1892, and I think some of my predecessors suggested it even before that. detract from anyone, but I know the committee
COLONIAL SECRETARY—I do not wish to
made similar recommendations. I think it
will be agreed that this vote is most necessary.
The vote was agreed to.
In the next minute the Governor recom-
mended the Council to vote a sum of $5,000 to meet the cost to be incurred on account of the erection of a market at Kowloon Point during the current year.
The vote was agreed to,
In the last minute the Governor recommended
the Council to vote a sum of $1,720 in aid of the vote" Watering Streets" to cover the oost of four-water carts and pumps for the use of the Sanitary Department."
The vote was agreed to.
The Committee next considered the Bill
entitled un Ordinance to authorise the appro- priation of a supplementary sum of five hundred and fifty-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-one dollars and seventy-eight cents. to defray the charges of the year 1900.
The various items in the Bill were considered
separately, and all were agreed to. They are as follows:-
Governor and Legislature Colonial Secretary's Department, Audit Department Treasury
84,806.03
6,698.02
1,762.53
4,275.94
6,011.06
6,681.00
3,287.74
2,605.55
10,293.14
5,186.76
11,119.34
2,514.59
6,070.01
2,080.51
224,592.28
4,800.00
9,096.33
...
18,912.17
藏品
$330,793.95
229,197.88
Public Works Department Harbour Master's Department Observatory Botanical and Afforestation Depart-
ment Legal Departments... Education... Medical Departments Magistracy Sanitary Department Transport... Miscellaneous Services Military Contribution-Contribu-
tion towards Defence Works Military Contribution-Expenses
of the Volunteers .. Public Works Recurrent
Ordinary Expenditure Extraordinary Public Works
Total Supplementary Votes This was all the business.
$559,991.78
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