CO129-317 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [4-6] — Page 86

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Sterling Salaries Scheme for Probationers in the Medical

Department. It will be noticed that in the Scheme they are

termed European Probationers and it was no doubt assumed that

would the scale of pay £65 to £80 will be reserved for Europeans

entitled to Exchange Compensation,

As a matter of fact the existing Probationers

(Nurses Lawrence and Hamilton) are half-castes born in the

Colony, and Dr. Atkinson recommends and I agree with him that

the dollar rate of $480 rising to $600 with $7 a month allowance

for fuel and light, is rufficient salary for Probationers who

will as a rule be girls of this class.

Nurses Lawrence and Hamilton have been allowed to

join the Scheme, but on the completion of their Agreements I

consider these posts should be struck out of the Scheme. In

the meantime fresh appointments (of which I have just made

one) should, I think, be on the dollar basis mentioned (with

$7 allowance) which is quite sufficient to attract the class

of Probationer required, and this rate should be paid to all

Probationers alike irrespective of nationality nor should any

Exchange Compensation he paid on these salaries.

6.

As regards the salaries of Messrs.

Carpenter and Haggard, I propose to make provision in the 1904

Estimates for salaries at the rate of £270 £330 for these

Officers. Mr. Carpenter is giving satisfaction and I have no

objection to his drawing £270 from 1st. January, 1904. But it

will depend on Mr. Haggard, who is still on probation and is not giving the Director of Public Works so much satisfaction,

whether I shall recommend him for appointment on the permanent

Staff on the same scale of pay from the 1st. of January next

year