4..
to the enormous sum vof. great increase is doubtless attributable to present sickness, but at all times, it is reasonable to expect that the cost of medicines procured of the dealer who has a profit to make, in this small place 10,000 miles distant from England, must be three or four times that of the same articles at home. On this subject, I take the liberty of referring Your Lordship to the Auditor General's letter to my address, Enclosure Nr 6.
4. The hospital stoppages made from the pay of all subordinate European and native patients while in hospital, have averaged during the past eight months $56.82; the nett expense to the Colony for medicines, rations, &c: during the same period, amounting to £159.1.8., i.e. an average of £19.17.8¾, or $95.45 per month. Dr Morrison calculates that the expense to Government, under the proposed system, will be $108.84, or only $13.39 in excess of the actual monthly expense at present, incurred.
This sum, and as the plan suggested will enable the sick to have additional comforts and proper superintendence, while the Colonial Surgeon will have it in his power to perform his duty in a satisfactory manner to himself, and creditable to the Government, I request that Your Lordship will confirm the measure I have caused to be adopted pending this reference.
It will be seen from Mr May's letter, that while an European policeman is in hospital, he is not allowed rations, and a deduction of 10½ is made from his daily pay. To this arrangement I see no objection, but I most decidedly dissent from Mr. May's proposition that neither Indians nor Chinese, from whose pay deductions are made of 8 or 6½ a day, should receive no pay whatever, while in hospital.