September 17, 1906.]
t as expedient, and that may be gathered | will
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15
13
CHINA OVERLAND TRÅDE REPORT.
make our contributor Banyan by suggesting that a corollary of "payment regret his recent gibes at what appeared by result ” is surely "results by payment samples of economy run mad. The result can be no harm in mentioning that justifies, and we hail it as supporting our residents believe this explains in plea that the retrenching authorities should incidents which the community take care of the "bagatelles". There must deplores. It is not difficult to foresee our have been considerable waste before to fate if the very disinterested altruists at permit of such a saving. We are glad to Home disinterested in the sense that they notice small savings on outlay on the do not expect to pay for their altruism, like Volunteers. We are reluctant to say much Tientsin which upholds British prestige at about the excellent Volunteer movement Hongkong's expense-get their way. In in the Colony, so dear to the gubernatorial the meantime, not knowing what the heart; and will be content with the not morrow is to bring forth, retrenchment impertinent remark that a Colony which should be the watchword of the Govern pays one-fifth of its revenue for soldiers ment; and we hope the public will not should not have to depend on Volunteers. consider us traitor to their interests if we It may be a strategic crime to whisper that our garrison is not up to strength, but we will risk it, in the absence of visible enemies. In any case, we fear that HIS EXCELLENCY's wish to see every British- born male prepared to fight for the Colony much a dream as the vision of universal peace. Such ambitions would perhaps not trouble him if we had our money's worth of garrison.
recommend the Government to show a
The effects
stiffer neck to popular clamour. We plead guilty to causing a decrease of $7,800 in the revenue, by voicing the conviction of the people that a mistake was being made in cutting down so many trees, which were planted with a view to benefits other than revenue. This decrease represents about 1-670th of the estimated expenditure, and we do not think it necessary to recapitulate all the ways in which the present policy is repaying that many times over, on water supply and health alone cannot be estimated in figures; and we hope we are not too stubborn in asking the public to reaffirm its decision if it should appear necessary. When His EXCELLENCY re- marked that he was "doubtful whether we shall not presently have to modify that policy ", he was presumably throwing out a feeler. We hope it was nothing more. Another instance due to popular clamour is a case of actual expenditure. We opined some time ago that we were not even then in a position to gratify our laud- able ambition to have everything up-to-date, like street fire alarms (which the Model Bettlement does without), modern refuse destroyers, and ornamental pier buildings. Without comment, HIS EXCELLENCY an- nounced that $20,100-about 1-25th of the estimated expenditure-was devoted to erecting a permanent shelter on Blake Pier. We quite realise how much such an erection will be welcomed by westhetes and bathing parties, and all we have against it is that it is a luxury for which we
unti! might have waited we were better able to afford it. Much has been said about the hideousness "*
to
be
of the present picturesque matshed. We would plead in favour of our old friend that the globetrotters regard him as evidence that they have reached the real Orient, that be is easier and cheaper to repair after typhoons, and that he affords adequate shelter without encroaching unduly upon pier space. We suppose it is too late now, but we regard that as one instance in which the Government might have been less indulgont towards our natural decires, for a time at least. Going through the items in this way, readers will be able to select and add together sums of expenditure which, according to their several predilec- tions, might have been more considered with a view to retrenchment. For instance, 8 thousand dollars is & comparative bagatelle, but we do not think the BACTERIOLOGIST will obtain its value from experiments with artificial light on bacteria, These experiments have been already made elsewhere, and there seems little excuse for -doing the same thing over again. The increase in the ecclesiastical vote is another item of which we cannot wholly approve, in a Colony with so many races and creeds, "On the other hand," His ExCELLENCY remarked, "there is a saving of $7,000 on stationery We have no doubt that this
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is as
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on the 13th instant in the Council Chamber at 2.30 p.m.
PRESENT:-
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MATTHEW NATHAN, K.C.M.G.
Hon. COLONEL DARLING, R.E. (Officer Commanding the Troops).
Hon. Mr. T. SERCOMBE SMITH (Colonial Secretary).
Hon SIR H, 8. BERKELEY, General).
Hon Mr. A. M. THOMSON Treasurer),
R.N. (Harbour Master).
He. Captain L. A. W. BARNES-LAWRENCE,
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is
raise that loan by instalments of £110,000 a year and the interest which we shall have to pay next year on the first of these instalments is not a heavy charge, but this "okarget will go on. mounting each year until the railway begins to pay its way. One reason why I am particularly anxious to avoid adding to the Colony's indebtedness and therefore to the Inc-ec- tive charges which appear in estimated the precarious, I may even say speculative, nature of some of the items of our revenue; we cannot count for certain in say your on getting approximately the mmo as we did of revenue we do not wish to add to our fixed in the preceding year. With fluctuating items items of expenditure. I am also averse to increasing taxation. It has been pointed out to me that this colony is very lightly taxed, and I by no means promise that I shall not on soine future vocacion propose additional importa, bát n time like the present one when trade is bad does not seem a suitable one at which to add to the burdens of traders, Further the decline in revenue which we now have to meet is, as I shall presently explain, largely due to a lower tender for the opium farm. I do not wish to impose additional taxation on non-smokers of opium because the burden is by force of circumstances lightened to those who smoke opium or who profit by others' use of this drag. There remains a reduction of expenditure and that is the method which it is proposed to adopt. We must out our coat according to our cloth. It must necessarily be a simple garment but I hope when I come presently to try it on you, you will agree with me that it is a fairly serviceable one in which the Colony need not feel ashamed to appear next season. (Hear, hear), It is somewhat of a tight fit, but if we adhere to the estimates we have framed we shall remain in the same sound financial position at the end of 1907 as I am happy to say we shall be in at the end of 1906. That position is somewhat better, according to our · (Attorney-present anticipations, than the estimate I made of it when introducing the budget for the year. (Colonial 1906. I then anticipated that on the 31st Dec.
1905, we should have a balance of assets over liabilities of some $332,000. The final socontai of the year 1905 showed a balance on the last day of that year of 8441,000, that is $100,000 better than we had expected. On the other hand we estimated the ordinary revenue of the Colony for year to be some $50,000 more than we shall This is due to no profit probably receive. having been made from subsidiary coins a subject to which I shall recur presently. We had counted on $120,000 receipts as this profit, and it is this amount, less certain excess on other items, that causes the deficit of $50,000 in our ordinary revenue for 1906. In our extraordinary
fall short by $243,000. This is due first of all to land sales which we estimated at 8400,000--being : now estimated at 8807,000; next to the Widows and Orphans Pension Fund amounting to $249,000, which you will remember it was proposed to transfer to revenue account not having been so transferred. On the other hand we are transfer- ring to the general revenue sums which have been found due to us on the closing of the Praya Reclamation account amounting to $98,000. Our ordinary expenditure during the current year is estimated now at $154,000 loss than when the original estimates were drawn up. This is due to an error on the right side which was “ made in basing the estimates on the possibility of the dollar falling below the amount at which it stood at any time during at 1904 and IP 5. The COLONIAL TREASURE seconded.
As you are aware, instead of falling, the dollar His EXCELLENCY said-Gentlemen, this is has riseu, and consequently a smaller the seventh year in succession that I have risen number of dollars have been required feu afer- in my place in another colony and here to put ling payments in England and in the Colony. before the Legislative Council the estimates for The saving on the estimates of ordinary extend. the ensuing year, but this is the first docasion iture would have been much greater. Jad on which it has been my unsatisfactory duty to not been necessary to send home at ■ announce a decline in the revenue. Before able loss a very large store of subsidiary: going into the long array of figures which I which had accumulated in the Colony and have on my note I think it will meet your not be disposed pf, and on wishes if explain generally how it is pro- Government were paying interest. posed to meet that decline. There are three traordinary expenditure for 1908, methods open to us. Either to raise further estimated at $152,000, less than loans, or to increase taxation or to reduce original estimates were prepared. expenditure. 14m · strongly, averse to tulating these figures you will see, raising additional loans at the present time. have $109,000 more due the We have already our old loan of 1894 of a sets over liabilities than « amounting at the present time to £300,000 after 31st December, 1905. We have $293,000 deducting sinking fund. We have also a new loan | less due to revenus not having · for the railway. We are fortunately able to to the amount expected, and we haye. $305,000)
Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Mr. F. J. BADELEY (Captain-Seperin- tendent of Police).
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, M.B., C.M., C.M.G. Hon. Mr. WEI YUK. Hon. Mr. E. A. HEWETT. Hon. Mr. E. Osbornej Hon. Mr. W. J. GRESSON, Mr. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Clerk of Council).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table report of the Finance Committee No. 8 and moved its adoption.
the motion was carrried.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and
THE ESTIMATES.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the first reading of a bill entitled An Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding five million two hundred and two thousand one hundred and thirty-five dollars to the Public Service of the year 1907.
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