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recurrent charges of motor van and ferry transport will be
considerably less than those for launch transport.
Provision is also made for a second linotype
machine. The amount of printing done by the Gaul for
departments continues to increase. The two small printing
machines are replacements of existing machines worn out.
Medical Department.
It is a matter of great regret that the Medi-
cal Department's schemes have been among the worst suffer-
ers from the pruning process which the Government in the
interests of financial caution has felt bound to apply to
its expenditure. The regret is the greater in that these
cuts cannot but be a heavy disappointment to the Director
of Medical and Sanitary Services who has been and is
devoting so much effort to bring the Medical and Health
services up to the best modern standards.
As Honourable Members are aware we have been
obliged to shelve again the provision of a really mc dern
Health Centre; the Dispensary Launch has had to share the
same fate. Among minor sacrifices I may mention that the
proposals for a Government Ophthalmic Surgeon and Dental
Surgeon have been revived only to be cut out again and
that an additional Sister for Public Health work and a
staff of four Chinese Health Nurses to make a start with
health visiting have had to be foregone.
Nevertheless
it would be unjust to say that the cupboard is more bare
for the Medical than for other Departments. For despite
the considerable saving represented by an exchange rate of 1/3 to the dollar as against 1/2 the Department's
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