August 3, 1908.)
THE GOVERNOR ON THE TYPHOON.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
whatever has been done to any lighthouse in the Colony (applause).
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The COLONIAL SECRETARY justified the clause by saying that it was conceviable that a lady marrying a man might make away with him to enjoy the pension (Laughter).
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-A
THE COLONIAL statutes drDINANCE, The ATTORNEY GENERAL À: regards the first order of the day, the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Evid-genious construction. ence (Colonial Statutes) Ordinance 1908, I ask the permission of the Council to withdraw that order. I find Sir, it would be necessary to make the ordinance amenable to the Imperial act bearing on this subject. That being so, it means the recasting of the Ordinance, and I ask that the order be discharged.
Agreed to.
very in-
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-It is all very well for you to laugh at it. When I was at gaol I had a lady ander my charge for doing away with her husband for a smaller motive.
HI EXCELLENCY the GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING pointed out that the provision protected the Fard against death bed marriages. Ult mately the clause was reconstructed on the lines of the Singapore Ordinance, and passed.
The Bill passed through committee. The COLONIAL SECRETARY-The alterations to this Bill are purely verbal and with the con- sent of hon. members I move it be read a third
WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' PENSION FUND. The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved that the Council go into Committee on the Bill entitled An Ordinance to provide for the Transfer to the Government of Hongkong of the Widows' and Orphans' Pension Fand and of the Manage-time.
and Control of the Pensions of Widows and Orphans and to consolidate the laws in relation thereto.
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The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
Hon. Mr. TEWART said that it did not seem equitable that officers on half pay should pay 4 per cent to the fund on their full salaries.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY replied that the point had been raised before. People seemed to think that pensions grew out of the ground. Pension tables were calculated on the assumption that the contributors paid 4 per cent to the fund throughout the year whether they were on full or half salaries. To adopt the amendment suggested by the hon. member, it would be necessary to recast the whole pension tables. They would eit er have to reduce the pension or increase the contribution, otherwise an extra burden would be imposed on the taxpayers now that the Fund has been taken over by the Government. He had no doubt contributors would be delighted to have that amendment carried, but in the interests of taxpayers, for whom be was speaking he could not advise it.
Hon Mr. STEWART withdrew his amend ment.
The HARBOUR MASTER pointed out that a bachelor received back balf of his contributions and he did not see why a widower should not benefit in like manner.
H18 EXCELLENCY-Before we proceed to the business of the day, I think it would be fitting if I say two or three words regarding the terrible disaster which befell this Colony ou the night of the 27th. I am told that the force of the wind in this last typhoon was very much greater than that in what is generally known as the great typhoon of September, 19 6. But I am glad to say that so far as we are aware-with the one terrible exception of the loss of the "Yingking vessel which is said to have had on board from 270 to 300 persons of whom only about 50 were saved-I believe the loss of life on this occasion in the harbour was much less than formerly, and I hope that when all the reports are received we shall find it is compar- atively small. But while the loss of life has not been so bad, we still have to deplore an enormous loss of properly by sea. A very largement number of junks and other vessels were driven ashore, wrecked op sunk, and in consequence the livelihood of a large number of Chinese has been taken from them, The loss on shore is, I am told, very much greater than it was in September, 1906.
I cannot now give the Connoil any acurate details, therefore I will not attempt to give any details at all, because reports are still coming in and we don't know exactly what damage has been done. We know there is a very considerable loss of life on shore through the falling of Chinese houses in various quarters, but I hope that when we have the full reports we shall find that any anticipation of great loss of life will not be verified. It is 8 terrible thing, gentlemen, to think of the numbers of people who are homeless and houseless, and of the numbers who have been killed. On most of these occasions, and I think prominently on this occasion, there is one relieving feature. We hear on all sides of the gallant way in which all the community rose to the occasion and rendered help to those who needed it. The police in Hongkong have nobly maintained the reputation of which they are the proud posses- sors, for gallantry in such circumstances, and for devotion to duty. We beard too of the gallant rescue by ore of the boats of the Royal Navy, and there are many, almost countless in
stances, of individual gallantry by members of this community. of all ranks and grades of Society. I have received two telegrams so far. One from my predecessor. Sir Matthew Nathan, conveying his regret at the terrible news, which has been published in the local papers; and another 1 received this morning from dmiral Lambton in the same sense. I have not received, so far, any telegram from the Secretary of State, bec use I telegraphed myself somewhat late, and only when I could send some hing like reliable news of what had happened. In all probability I will get a reply telegram before the day closes. We have bad reasons to discuss very frequently of late losses to Governmeni property, and the present losses, I anti. oipate, will reach somewhere about $100 000; and that will be a considerable blow in the present state of our finances. My pre- decessor, when speaking in this Council room immediately after the typhoon of 1906, spoke of the set back the Colony then received, and he expressed confideuce that it would be met in an undaunted spirit. W- have On this occasion, more material losses to regret than there were on that occasion, but I have no less confidence than he had that whatever necessity may arise for meeting these difficulties, we shall face it without fail. I do not anticipate that it will be necessary to raise any fand for the reli-f of distress, as we have a balance in band from the last event, but at the same time I cannot speak absolutely in this matter, because, as I Baid, I have not yet got reports in from the various districts. I am in hopes that through- out the greater part of the new Territory the paddy crops have already been harvested, and that that great loss will at any rate, be avoided. Hon. Mr. STEWART suggested that the words Hon.COMMANDER TAYLOR-Your Excellency," subject to the approval of the Governor " be lf I might be permitted to say a few words, I would men ion that since I sent in my report of damage done in the harbour, I find there is one inaccuracy in it. That is, that No. 3 police launch which was reported lost at Mirs Bay, is perfectly safe. When I put in the report yes- terday I had not received any news regarding the lighthouses, but now I find that no damage
The COLONIAL SECRETARY explained that a bachelor imposed no risk on the fund and there- fore he received back half of bis contributions, but if he married be imposed a risk on the fund. He might predecease bis wife, and responsibi. lity w.ald devolve thereby on the fund.
he HARBOUR MASTER said the contributor before his marriage should get every advantage A bachelor received.
The COLONIAL TREASURER pointed out that the man who bad contributed to the fund for seven or eight years before he married received nearly double the pension of a married man who joined the service at the same date, so' that his bachelor contributions did benefit him.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY sad this was another factor which had to be considered in calonlating the pension tables, and if they pulled out one brick they would bring the whole fabric down about their ears. Instead of the taxpavers paying 6 per cent they would be called upon to pay 6 or 61 per cent, and they must have regard to the taxpayer.
His EXCLLENCY-You cannot call in ques tion the principle on which the Ordinance is based, and I don't think, the Bill having passed its second reading, you can dispute the manner in which the tables are drawn up.
The point was not pressed farther.
on
The REGISTRAR GENERAL submitted clause 14 there should be an appeal from the decision of the directors where they deprived a party of the privileges due under the fands.
The COL NIAL SECRETARY admitted that the law was drastic, but pointed out that men might rain the fund by false declarations as to the age of wives and other matters.
added.
This was agreed to.
On clause 15, Hon. Mr. STEWART took excep- tion to section 2 which provided that no widow of an officer who died wi hin a year from the date of his marriage shall be entitled to a pension ander this ordinance unless a child is 'born of such marriage.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL seconded. On the question being put, Hon. Mr. STEWART was the only dissentient.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-Do you object to the third reading or to it being read now?
Hon. Mr. STEWART-Perhaps I bad better explain. Some misunderstanding of the un- official attitude towards this legislation seemé to have arisen ont of the circumstance that opposition W88 not pressed to A division upon the resolution in favour of the second reading. This was described in a local newspaper as having been carried unanimously, whereas there were at least three audible poes' when the question was put. If I had foreseen the possibility of such a mis- understanding I should certainly have asked for a division, because I was not convinced by the arguments employed in defence of the action of the Home Authorities. I failed also to realise the adequacy of the reasons given by the Local Government for declining to consider the advisability of postponing legislation until after the promised valuation, which will cost as much, and be just as illuminating, whenever made. I do not propose to bring up those points again in discussion, but, as I endeavoured to make clear in my speech on the second reading I object to the action of the Secretary of State in issuing categorical instructions to your Excellency to pass this measure when the information was before him that the large majority of the contributors were opposed to the proposal and also that the on- official members supported that opposition. The fact that the maj rity of contributors have since then changed their opinions does not remove objection to the arbitrary nature of those instruction. It is still reasonable to object to the idea of the officials of this Colony being treated to a disciplinary measure in a matter of this kind; and also to the idea of this Council being used as medium for the enforcement of such a messure; so by way of recording a protest against this contemplated coercive settle- ment of a highly controversial and technical question, and further in order to make plain the fact that the Council is not unanimous, even now, in supporting the Bill, I intend to vote against the third reading.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Ï understand the hon. member does not object to the third reading being taken to-day ?
Hoo. Mr. STEWART-Certainly merely want to record my protest,
not. I
H18 EXCELLENCY, on patting the question, declar d" the ayes have it.
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The ATTORN Y GENREAL-Unless the hon. member challenges a division the Bill pres unanimously.
Hon. Mr. STEWART challenged a division. He was the only dissentent and the third read- ing was carried.
HIS EXCELLENCY-The Council is adjourned until next Thursday,
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committos was then held, the COLONIAL SECETARI presiding. The foll wing votes were passed :-
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TAIPO STAFF QUARTERS.
The Governor recommended the Council to to vote a sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000) in aid of the vote, Public Works Extraordinary, Staff Quarters, Tai Po.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.