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necessary, apart from any reasons connected with the prevention of plague, The Sanitary Department has grown to such dimensions that it is in my opinion absolutely necessary that there should be appointed to it a Head who will be responsible to Government for the efficient and economical administration of the Department. The present system, where there is no head directly responsible, leads in my opinion to great extravagance. I have accordingly to ask your permission to make provision for the appointment in the Estimates for 1903, and looking to the size of the Department I am of opinion that a salary equal to that of the Principal Civil Medical Officer, namely $4,800 rising to $6,000 per annum, should be provided. I quote a dollar salary because I am of opinion that the present Medical Officer of Health would be the most suitable candidate for the post.
5.
and
With these additional appointments, the Special Plague Staff for which I asked in my Despatch No.264 of the 20th ultimo that provision might be made, I am of opinion that the Sanitary Department ought not to require any additions to its establishment for some time to come.
7.
If you approve of the above recommendations I have to request that you will be so good as to inform me by telegraph in order that provision for them may be made in the Departmental Estimates for next year.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient
Humble servant,
M.J. Gascoigne
Major-General, Administering the Government.
mjD