The Treasurer reported that the Preliminary Estimates covering all sections of the Force, as submitted by the Commissioner of Police, amounted to $15,915,270, an increase of $4,008,150, or 33.61 per cent. as compared with the relevant Budget appropriations for 1939. The Commissioner's estimates had been increased by $140,830 as shown in the summary of comparative statistics given below.
Certain betterments in the conditions' of service for the Chinese Branch were recently authorized by the Council and entailed an-adverse adjustment for the year of some $157,- 550. Other amendments involved a net reduction on balance of $16,720 and called for no special comment, In view of the urgent need for economy, the Commissioner was requested to review these estimates and to. explore the possibilities of retrenchment, The consideration by Members which then followed was accordingly undertaken in the knowledge that the figures under review would be modified by a supplementary report to be submitted by the Treasurer (set forth later in this ar-tide and also referred to hereunder as "final adjustments").
The estimates in their amended form now totalled $16,056,100, an increase of $4,143,980, or 34.79 per cent. as compared with the Budget for 1989, under this Section. The strengthening of the Reserve Unit by one complete Unit accounted for an increase of 82. To offset this, the establishment of Sergeants and Probationary Sergeants was reduced by 10 and it was now proposed to increase this establishment by 3 upon the lapse of 3 civilian posts.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.