Under "General" the amended requirements were now shown as 3 Motor Vans $40,040 4 Motor Cycles 30,800 Furniture and Sundries—29,130
To this is to be added for Gaol requirements $10,980 and for Specials $500, making a total appropriation of $112,350.
Supplementary Report Ordinary Expenditure-—The Treasurer, in a supplementary report submitted, gave a resume of further adjustments in the Police Estimates, recommended as a result of consultation between himself and the Commissioner of Police, and some observations on other aspects of the estimates which may result in economies at a later date.
Recruitmeni—Vacancles,—There were 167 vacancies in the various executive branches of the Force on January 1, 1940, with an approximate annual budgetary value of $275,000. The existing vacancies in the Foreign Branch, Section LI, were to be filled by recruits at present being engaged in Japan and there were commitments in regard to vacancies in the Sikh Branch which also restricted the scope for retrenchment in this direction. Apart from these commitments, the Commissioner had agreed for the time being to suspend recruitment, and, as a consequence, the estimates were to be relieved of a sum of $125,000.
Personnel Wastages.—All vacancies occurring during the course of a year are not automatically and immediately filled and as a consequence the budget provision remained unexpended during the hiatus' caused by unexpected retirements, In the light of the experience of former years and bearing in mind the higher cost of staff pay and emoluments, it had been arranged provisionally with the Commissioner to relieve the esti-
In addition provision was included under "General Charges" for an amount of $506,260 to cover rentals on leased premises and allowances in lieu of quarters in respect to the Foreign Branch.
The major portion of expenditure connected with the Police Service related to the heading of "General" and the main differences between the Amended Estimates of this Section for and the relevant Budget pro for 1939 are given hereunder Incr. Deer. mates of a sum of $150,000 in respect of these contingencies.
Uniform and Equipment,—The Commissioner had agreed to investigate ways and means of encouraging the local manufacture of wai form ard other materials usually purchased from abroad, but as commitments had been entered into covering the major portion of 1940 purchases under this heading. the full benefit of such an economy measure will not accrue until subsequent years. The Commissioner was also examining the question of the charges made by the Police Chinese tailors for the making-up of uniforms, with a view to ascertaining whether any economy in this direction is practicable. A suggestion that it may prove of advantage to call for annual tenders for this work is also. receiving consideration.
Catching Strong Dogs Locomotion, Fuel, Chinese Tuition, Expenses of Catching Stray Dogs, Maintenance of Furniture—The appropriations under these headings are under investigation and some measure of relief may eventuate in respect of some of them.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.