CO129-545-1 Estimates 1934 4-10-1933 - 17-4-1934 — Page 186

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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 modern

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 Hedical 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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