Donkey, let for hire from Livery Stables, $1 For every Four-Wheeled Carriage, let for hire from Livery Stables, $3 lying for hi in the Streets of the For every Four-Wheeled Carriage,
For every Two-Wheeled Carriage, Battloments, $5 lying for hire in the Streets of the
For every Two. Wheeled Carri let for hire from Livery Stables, $2.50 For every Jinriesha, let for hire, 81.50 For every Wheel-barrow, let for hire, nth, payable in advance, 400 cash For every Native Water art, 82 For every Cargo Boat, ear-per tying capacity under 20 tons, For every Native Boat, according to class,—100 to 600 cash.
For every Sampan, at $1 each for two months, payable in advance.
For every permit to erect Sun-shades over public thoroughfares—Tls. 2 per fong, payable in advance, or every permit to open Roads, for
Municipal Drains—Tls. 3 each, payable in ting, oF repairing connections with advance.
Telegraph Fees—Taels one hundred per line per annum, in advance.
Telephone Fees—For each Pole $2 per annum, payable in advance.
Cemetery Vault...... Tls. 10.00 in ad-Fees vasoeene GraveSpace 2.25 J vance.
Local Post Office Subseriptions—Tls. 30 per annum, in advance, Mr. Keswick said—Of course, gentlemen, in this memorandum of license fees, ete., as you will see, I apprehend, from the budget, there will have to be certain changes made. Owing to the decreased amount of the income derived in 1884 from the usual native taxes and licenses, it is necessary to make arrangements for adding to the income by increasing the present rates or imposing new taxes. As a matter of fact, gentlemen, this has been no very easy matter to the Council. Of course we have been a good deal embarrassed to know in what way we were to impose the taxes so as to give us anything like the increase of income we required; and going carefully into the subject, the Council came to the conclusion that under the present cireumstances the native house-tax was quite as high as was justifiable. And moreover there have been on more than one occasion complaints made that the Chinese are complaining very much indeed of the taxes which are at present imposed upon them and the Council decided that only one source of revenue was left to them to increase, and that was the tax on foreign houses—they could raise the tax on foreign houses from 8 to 10 per cent., making it the same as on native houses. It has been suggested that the land tax. should be raised also; but I think there is no doubt that this would meet with very eneral disfavour. I think there can be no doubt that a great deal of the land in this Settlement is taxed fully at its value, if not in excess of it; and I do not think that such a proposal would meet with much favour. We decided therefore to propose
extra on foreign houses, which would give us the imposition of a tax of two per cent I think, as there are about 800 occupied houses, altogether about Tls. 12,000, which consequently will not be very' much felt over all that number. We also propose to put a tax on Chinese tea-shops. This is a tax which has always been imposed in the French Concession, and is one, I think, which will hardly be felt at all. ' The only surprise is that it waa never proposed before. But unfortunately the revenue to be derived from it is very small; it would only amount to Tls. 2,000 according to the estimates. But we have put it very low, and I think all probability it will bring from Tls. 3,000 to Tls. 4,000—say Tls. 3,000 any way. OF course this amount will have to he made in nine months, because we have only nine months to collect it in; I dare say if we had twelve months we should be able to make it up to Tls. 4,000. After considering this question of raising the foreign house tax and the imposition of these licenses on tea-shops, the Council had before them the question of raising a permanent and important revenue by the reimposition of the old Wharfage Dues; but they found they could not take up a very strong ground on that without the ce-operation of our neighbours of the French Concession. Having taken measures to ascertain how far their ce-operation might be secured, we found that with the excellent revenue they have it would be very far from their interest by tid persons from going there, should they be driven, away from here by the re-imposition of this tax. We did not attach very much im-Griven from here but what influence tance to the possibility of their bei
us in deciding not to make any. proposal in the budget for the re-imposition of the Wharfage Dues was the fact that we could not gat te cooperation ofthe foreigners in the French Concession. I do not think that there is anything particular that I need add to what I have said. I might, howerer, return to the subject of the tea houses. 'T forgot to mention that we purpose dividing the tea-houses into several classes. I think, gentlemen, in moving this resolution there is nothing' further which Brenly nade' ley therefore to Depoee fore to propose Resolution LI.
Mr. Narmas.
I have much pleasure in seconding that.
The Camas then put the resolution to the meeting, simply reading the short abstract which' appeared on the notice-paper.
Mr. R. W. Lrrrie—t understand, Mr. Chairman, that the resolution which the Chairman of the Council has just moved is this long one. I think it is usual—I may say it has been the custom so long as I have had any experience of these meetings—for the whole resolution to be read to the meeting before it is put. Of course it takes a long time, and itis well understood what it is; but' the only thing is that bye and bye some one might object to the resolution if it were passed in the short form in which the Chairman has put it. I think it might be advisable for the Chairman to read it.
The Cuarmmax—I can still read it if gentlemen wish; but I observe that last year it was taken as read, and for that Reason I suggested that it should be now.
Mr. Keswick—I bey to move that it be taken as read.
Mr. MysuncH—I second that.
The Cuarestax put to the meeting the motion that the resolution should be taken as read, and a majority of hands were held up in its favour.
Mr. Lrrrur—Should it not be described which is resolution No. 3?—because itis not numbered. Someone might object to pay one of these taxes bye and bye because it is not described in the resolution what the taxes are, I think it is well that it should be described what resolution is referred to.
'Mr. Penpos—Might it not do just to read the heading of the resolution Mr. Kesw1cx—Gentlemen, in compliance with the request I will read the heading.—Mr. Keswick then read the resolution as far as' License Fees." He said—The mainder, I think, gentlemen, we may take as read, Mr. Wanp—Mr. Chairman, I should ike to move an amendment to the proposi tion, if Lam in order now. It has only just been put into my hands, and Tam sorry to say Lam not prepared with a long. speech about it But it seems to me that the municipal finances require sume attention at our hands; they have got into such a state that we ought to make an effort tu put them right. I perceive that it will probably be proposed by the Council to False Tls. 50,000 by debentures to provide for what are practically current expenses and it seems to me to be undesirable to burden the Settlement with that large issue, seeing that we have already Tis, 159,000 outstanding. There is a tax which the Chairman of the Municipal Council has referred to, namely the Wharfage Dues, which it seems to me desirable to reimpose; and I believe it would produce a very considerable income.—Mr. Ward then proposed an amendment in slightly different terms from that subsequently read by Mr. Drummond.
Mr. Davao seconded the following amendment, proposed by Mr. Ward—Amendment.—That in liew of an issue of debentures and the increase of the Tax on Foreign houses, the Council be and are hereby authorised to impose a tax in the form of dues in respect of goods passed through the Custom House by persons resident or having their business premises within the Settlement, and in respect of goods landed or shipped within the Scttlement; provided that such dues do not exceed 1-10th of one per cent. on the value of such gonds, Goods in transit to be exempted. He said—In reference to this amendment, which has been proposed, I may mention that T have only just been asked to second it; and therefore I have not been able to take the matter into very much considera tion. But I have reason to believe it will be supported by a large number of those who ate resident in the Settlement, and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.