“August 24, 1907.]
members of the Executive Council! One voted against it at this table. You were evidently not convinced, Sir, that there was any reason why the exemption should be granted because you did not vote against it.
The PLESIDENT-It does not follow at all. Mr. BOOPER-Quite 80. I take it you would have taken a different attitude. I feel so strongly upon this case that I visited the pre- mises yesterday, and I can safely say that a more sanitary Chinese building I have not found in this Colony. It is 100 fest long and has frontages to two other streets of 15 feet each. Its boundaries extend to 230 feet, of which 130 feet are open to external air. With regard to the reocmmandation that a backyard should be opened there, the effect would be to convert a sanitary building into an insanitary one. I don't think I ever knew & more flagrant gase in which it would be an abuse of the powers conferred on this Board if we don't recommend exemption. (Mr. "UMPHREYS -Hear, hear.) I have made inquiries to-day and I don't think it would be distasteful to His Excellency the Governor-in-Council if the matter is referred back,
The Hon. Mr. HEWETT-I know the property very well and I entirely endorse Mr. Hooper's statement. It is most unreasonable to ask the owner to open up he backyard. I have much pleasure in seconding Mr. Hooper's resolution that that case be referred back to His Excel- lency the Governor-in-Council.
The resolution was carried, only the President and Mr. Wolfe voting against it.
Mr. HOOPER-Did you vote against thf, Mr. President?
The PRESIDENT —Yes.
Mr. HOOPER-I would ask that the rotes be recorded.
The PRESIDENT-Certainly.
D AFT ESTI и ATES.
The draft estimates for the Sanitary Depart- ment for the year 1908 were submitted. Under the heading of personal emoluments the total shown was $219,655 as the approved estimate of 1947 as against $219,640, the estimate for 1908. Under the heading of other charges, which included the expenses for the Sanitary taff, the Veterinary Staff and the Plague Staff the total of $454,229 was shown as the amount of the approved estimate for 197 as against $446,393, the estimate for 1968.
The PRESIDENT, I would draw the members' attention to the fact that there are several alterations in these estimates, that is to say, the estimates for 1908 as compared with those for this year.
There are small savings under various subheads which I can inform you of, if you wish it, but the total alterations effect a saving of $8 241 and, in addition, provide for two lass inspectors on the estimates for next year. One market inspector has been omitted, and one inspector has been appointed a storeman, and his place has not been filled. Those are practically the whole of the alterations.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REFORT.
Mr. HOOPER-I beg to propose an amend- ment, and that is that the sum allowed for the inspector of marketa be struck out eo- tirely. There a note in the estimates stat ing that one market inspector has been done away with, leaving one. The Commission re- commended the abolition of the office of inspector of markets as they considered that office altogether useless, and that the work could be carried out by the other inspectors. I move that the item be struck out.
The PRESIDENT I think it would be just as well to inform you before you put that to the meeting that this inspecter, required for that work, is in charge of the slaughter houses at the depôt in Kowloon which is now Government property. I think it is absolutely necessary that there shoul bone market inspector.
Hon. Mr HEWETT-Do we understand that practically means the making of another senior inspector at Kowloon ?
The PRESIDENT-Not a senior, a first class inspector.
Mr. HOOPER-He is down under inspector of markets, and I take it bis duties are as laid down in the standing orders for inspectors of markets. Does ho hold a dual appointment?
THE PRESIDENT-It is a departmental arrangement. He inspects the markets on this side and is in charge of the depots sine the Government handed them over to the Board,
Mr.
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UMPHREYS-If they have plenty of work to do, that is another matter.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-With regard to the estimates generally, I should like to make a few remarks. In the first place, I am very glad that Mr. Hooper directed attention tɔ the payment of $ 20 to a man to supervise the refuge for dogs at the slaughter house. I can say from personal experience tha the police-unfortunately the Captain Saperintend ent is not here- or whoever the responsible authorities are, are greatly remiss in the man. Der in which they look after stray dogs in the Colony. It has very rarely happened since I have been here that I have not had one stray dog I have been feeding, and not infrequently I have caught dogs and taken them to the police station-mangy, miserable dogs that ought to be destroyed. I think that the attention of the Government should be directed to this matter, for there are a number of these homeless dogs about, and we must not forget the danger which exists from rabies. It is a matter which I have had to deal with elsewhere and I have had an instance of the peril- one of my own personal friends losing bis life-and the most terrible death any body could suffer is hydrophobia. With regard to Mr. Humphreys' remarks, I beg to remind him that the Sanitary Commission in mak. ing their report gave special attention to the question of plague staff, and the only conclusion we could come to was that the condition of plague in the Colony was so varied that it is absolutely necessary to have a certain number of trained men to deal with it, and that being so, it is necessary to keep these men. In a bad year their services are urgently required. At times when plague is not rampant they can, no doubt, be usefully employed in other directions. With regard to the general question of the estimates. I take it that these estimates solemnly placed before us have been officially put before the Board in consequence of an undertaking practically entered into by the Government when this paper was laid on the table of the Legislative Council on the 13th June this year." (L C. No. 25, 1907.) This paper purports to deal with the various points referred to-1 the report of the Public Health and Buildings Ordin. ance Commission, Coming to the ques- tion of the estimates, in paragraph 255 of that Hon. Mr. HEWETT-Sir, In seconding the report it was recommended that the Board amendment I would remind you of the recom. should have full opportunity of discussing the mendation made by the Fanitary ommission, estimates before they were sent to the Govern- that two inspectors of markets should be abolishment. His Excellency the Officer Administering ed. But that was only part of a very much larger scheme. Our suggestion to the Govern- ment was that a whole reorganisation of the service should be carried out; that senior inspectors should be abolished, and distriot inspectors, if necessary, given smaller districts and communicate direct with the Medical Officer of Health or the district or depart. mental Engineer as proposed. There should be more senior and re ponsible officers such as the Medical Officer of Health and the En-
Mr HOOPER-My point is that we don't want an inspector of markets here, and the abolition of that post was recommended by the Sanitary Commission, it not being considered necessary. The work can be put on to a senior inspector. I don't see, in reference to our report and the proposed abolition, that we should now pass that sum for his salary.
The REGISTRAR-GENERAL-Io that case another inspector woul have to be allowed for. It would not make any difference if the man was not called by that name. If this inspector was cut out I understand another inspector would have to come in.
Mr. Hoo BE-Not of markets
The REGISTRAR-GENERAL-But he will be an inspector of markets.
Mr. HOOPER - What we think is that a senior inspector on that side can attend to the slaughter house work. We don't want any man paid as inspector of markets on this side or the other.
Mr. HOOPER-There are just one or two questions I want to ask to make the estimates a little more explicit. What is that item ongineer, and less juniors. I second Mr. page 71 under Veterinary Staff- allowance to supervise dogs in quarantine station P What does this man do? It is a new officer created this year.
The SECRETALY-Formerly dogs were kept at the quarantine station at Kowloon, but the ground was wanted for the railway works. Now the quarantine station is at Kennedytown, but the watchman who was formerly in charge has not been transferred, a first-class inspector being appointed to look after the dogs and receiving the same amount of salary as the watchman was allowed,
Mr. HOOPER-He supervises the feeding? The MEDICAL OFFICEE OF HEALTH -- Yes. Mr. HOOFTE-Are many dogs impounded in the course of a year?
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH--I can't By now,
There are none at the present moment.
The PRESIDENT-I know as a fact that there are dogs there at times, and they must be watched. One was sent there supposed to be mffering from hydrophobia.
Mr. HOOPER-I take it that anything we object to here must be done by amendment?
The PRESIDENT-To be in form I will more the adoption of the estimates by
the Board.
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Hooper's amendment because I consider, after spending several years on the Board and very nearly a year in close consid ration of the workings of the department that the only proper way improvement can be carried out is o. the lines laid down by the Commission.
The amendment on being pat to the vote was carried
Mr. HUMPHREYS-I would like to point out that under Plague Staff there are a large num ber of foremen, artisans and coolies apparently getting fixed salaries from the department. It seems to me quite unnecessary that these men should be permanently engaged, and in a year like this when there is practically little or no plague at all the men have n thing to do and the Colony is losing a certain amount of money. 1 think, if you agree, that that might be deleted also.
the Government was graciously pleased t› state that this was agreed to. With regard to the remark about market inspectors, it is difficult to deal with a question of this sor, in detail; the recommendations of the Comm.sion dealt with the department as a whole.
The PRESIDENT-There is one correction I must make. 1 would draw your attention to the fact that the estimates have always been placed before the Board while I have been president.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-I beg your pardon, Sir. We had it in evidence fr. m your locum tenens and yourself before the Commission that the estimates may or may not have been placed before the Board as a matter of courtesy.
The PERSIDENT- What I have said is simply a fact which, I think, I can prove.
Hon. Mr. HtwETT-One year to my certain knowledge the estimates were not placed before the Board.
The PRESIDENT—I was not here.
Hon. Mr. EWETT-The year before, the Estimates embracing $40:00', we e placed on the table, and we bad neve, seen them until we came into the room. We were given no oppor. tunity of considering them, and at five minutes' notice asked to
them. When I pass protested you informed me that it Was necessary to pass the estimates at the moment because they required to be passed by the The PRESIDENT-The permanent plague Legislative Council at an early date. After staff, I might point out, is maintained in some discussin and difficulty the un cial accordance with a recommendation of Professor
able to arrange that their Simpson, who pointed out that it was absurd to consideration should be postponed for» week and trust to anyone we might pick up in the street we had a special me-ting to consider them. For to do the necessary work in connection with
some years it was certainly not considered ne‹ en- plague cases. And they are not idle, but other- ■ry to submit the estimates to the Boud, an‹, as wise employed if there is no epidemic existing. | the Commission were officially informed on sworn That has been laid down in the plague procedure i evidence, the officials did not consider It submitted to the Board.
necessary after the passing of Ordinance 23
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were
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