The list of buildings and public works to be carried through during the year, a cost of Ts. 621,000, speaks for itself; and, if any criticism of that list is needed, it is to be found on page 131 of the Report, in @ passage where the Engineer enumerates the more important works which will require to be carried out in the near fature, and which are not included in this unhappily termed Extraordinary Expenditure will not cease but will become as ordinary as the pay of a constable, Mr. 0. Menen: I beg to second.
The Cuarrwax: Resolution VII ie proposed and seconded and is now before the meeting.
Mr. H. D. Horcatsox said: Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen—Last year you heard from this platform the turtle dove cooing in fond notes of praise to his former fellows; this year, I fear it will be said that mine is the voice of the turtle, croaking in dismal accents from the rising, threatening flood of increased taxes. (Laughter). During the boom of trade Municipal expenditure has been steadily growing and mounting up until that no longer possible to make now it has reached sach a high figure
ends meet without placing fresh burele on the community. Up till now in the happiness of prosperity, extravagance has been covered by numerous petty licences, irritable to all concerned, and costly in collection and all tending to increase the cost of living. Now that means of raising revenue has been tactically exploited for all it is worth, i posed to add in the worst times Shanghai has ever seen larger burdens on the community in shape of increased ation. Of course the tenant popula-has to find the largest share, namely twelve per cent on our rentals of offices and homes, and the landowner. having s heavier tax will raise rental What more is it proposed to give us A more expensive police force, a much dearer police headquarters' staff, Tls. 2,000 more in public lighting and Tls. 24,000 more in police headquitters, Efficient policing, however, we all desire and must bear the barden for it. Then there is proposed Tle. 50,000 more in Municipal salaries. These are not quite the best times in which to increase the staff unnecessarily or launch forth on new enterprises entailing heavy expenditure, and more employees. I may say that owing to the lateness in publishing the accounts I have compared the Estimates mainly with the Estimates of a year ago.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.