Consulting Sanitary Surveyor,
Mr. Hollingsworth, Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department, acts as Consulting Sanitary Engineer,
Engineer, Disinfector. It has been found impossible to obtain a Chinese Engineer for the Disinfecting Station at $18 a month and as a reliable man is necessary to look after the machinery, the Sanitary Board recommended that the pay should be increased to $35 a month.
Stoker, Disinfector. The watchman, whose pay is $10 a month, acted as stoker but resigned on account of inadequate pay. The Sanitary Board reports that a suitable man cannot be got for this purpose at a lower wage than $12 a month.
Foremen, Disinfecting Staff. On the 1st January 1901, the Medical Officer of Health reported that the work of disinfection was carried on under difficulties. The existing arrangement was that a European Inspector was responsible for the duty and that when a case of infectious disease occurred, he obtained coolies from the nearest coolie-house to remove the patient and carry out disinfection and cleansing work. But (a) these coolies were frequently old and decrepit; (b) they were untrained and therefore frequently put out of action the perchloride spray. The Medical Officer of Health therefore recommended that the Government should retain the services of a Portuguese foreman at $30 a month, 2 Chinese foremen at $12 a month, and 20 coolies at $10 a month. These men were paid out of the Plague Vote during 1901 and have now been placed in the 1902 Estimates.