CO129-231 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1887 [1-3] — Page 186

a. between $40 to $60 per month, say, increment according to his capabilities for the work, account and that he do the dispensing only. The keeping or handling of monies to be required in connection with the Lock Hospital, I propose temporarily to transfer to the Steward of the Civil Hospital who is willing to do the work at a small remuneration, I would recommend that he be given say $15 per month for this service, especially as there will be considerable responsibility on him. The money matter thrown in, viz. $60 at the most for Dr. Souza and $15 for the steward, will just be within the salary of $80 drawn by the Apothecary. With these arrangements, the work would, I think, run smoothly for 3 or 4 months until a permanent appointment was made.

2. The permanent measure I would propose is as follows. That a sufficiently qualified man be procured from London, who is competent to do the dispensing work, alone if need be in time of emergency. I believe that if the Government offered the salary of $50 per month, rising by annual increments of $12 till a salary of $100 a month is reached, with quarter rations found, there would be little difficulty in procuring a very able man for the purpose. He ought to be a single man, not married. The Authorities in the Colonial Office at home should be requested to communicate with the Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, through whom a man with the major diploma of the Society (this being the lowest standard necessary) could be easily procured. I am firmly convinced that it is only by this method that anything ...