126
P. 65, n.
3.
P. 66, n.
APPENDIX III,- Continued.
The Bacteriologist has been granted leave of absence in 1915. and as it has not been found possible to get an officer in the Service to act for him, the acting appoint- ment has been offered to, and accepted by, Professor Malcolmson of the Hongkong University. The amount inserted represents half of Dr. Macfarlane's salary during three months' full pay leave. The payment of salary to an acting officer during vacation leave is unusual, but the present case is an exceptional one.
8. Equipments for examination of Cassia and Anise Oils.
P.
69, n.
12.
P.
72, n.
9.
P. 70, n.
6.
P. 70, n.
9.
n. 10. n. 11.
P. 72, n.
3.
P. 72, n. 14.
P. 78, n. 15.
P. 91, n. 1.
P. 101, n. 20.
P. 102, n.
4.
P. 102, n.
5.
P. 118, n. 5.
It is expected that the expenditure incurred in connection with this work, which has been undertaken at the request of the Chamber of Commerce, will be recovered from the fees paid for the examinations.
Of the 85 additional Scavenging Coolies 25 are required owing to the steady growth of new houses and streets, which has made it impossible for the present staff to cover the ground properly. The addition of the other 60 men, which costs $6,480, has been necessitated by the institution of a departmental haulage system for pulling the scavenging carts in place of the contract system which had proved unsatisfactory. By this change a saving of $90 has been effected with a great gain in efficiency.
The Foreman at the Animal Depôts and Slaughter Houses has to control a gang of 31 coolies, and, if he shows himself competent, will be promoted to the much better paid post of Scavenging Foreman, which carries a salary of $300 raising to $120 a year. In order to keep this man in his present post, it has been decided to raise his salary to the same rate as that at which a Scavenging Foreman is paid.
The post of 3rd Grade Overseer for the Western Market, South Block, has been abolished, it having been found impossible to get a suitable man for the money. A foreman at $300-$120 has therefore been appointed in his place, and the market put under the overseer in charge of the Central Market, with a special allowance of $300 a year.
The substitution of electric light for the miscellaneous private illuminants in use will improve both the lighting and the atmosphere of these small markets which are dark and confined. The cost of current will be recovered by increasing the rents of the stalls.
It has been decided to order from England a four-wheeled dust-cart as an experiment. It is expected that the better materials and workmanship which a large factory at home can furnish will repay the increase in initial cost by length of life and savings on repairs, as in the case of water-carts purchased from England.
When the new scale of £300-£550 was approved for European Masters, this officer was not placed on it for the reason that his qualifications were not as high as those of other masters. It has, however, been considered that it would be difficult to keep him out of the scheme entirely, and, in order to make some differentiation, he has been placed on the scale with the first increment fixed at £30 instead of at £60 as in the case of the others.
At the present time there is no systematic method of carrying out house inspec- tions for leaks, waste of water, and unauthorized connections, and the appointment of these Inspectors is designed to improve the existing state of affairs.
These new posts are necessary owing to the increase in the number of mail bags, &c., handled. The small number of postmen available for such work has rendered it necessary to employ outside coolies who are unreliable an I not under the control of the Postmaster General. In addition to the handling of mail bags, these permanent coolies will be required to distribute correspondence iu the sorting office, and to assist in keeping the office clean.
The authorized number of 1st class Postmen is 14, but provision has been made for only 7, for only 7 2nd class postmen are expected to become qualified for the higher class. Until the 1st class has reached its full complement, it has been found necessary to employ 4 probationer sorters at $180 each to perform the duties of 1st class postmen. This staff is necessitated by the proposed establishment of a radio-telegraph station at Cape D'Aguilar. Advantage was taken of the institution of this Radio- Telegraph service in the Post Office by a fusion with it of the present Harbour Office Telegraph service, thus saving unnecessary expenditure and tending to greater efficiency. Owing to this amalgamation the following items have been transferred from the Harbour Office Estimates :-
2 4th Grade Telegraph Clerks.
1 5th Grade Telegraph Clerk (to be promoted to 4th Grade in 1915). 1 Messenger.
Other Charges.
...
Incidental Expenses, ... Uniform,
+
•
...
$50
•
14
The work of inspecting the station accounts had hitherto been undertaken by the Chinese clerks in the Accounts Office in addition to their ordinary duties. This arrangement was, however, found unsatisfactory, because it was considered to be essential that one man should give his whole time to this important work, and because the Chinese clerks lacked the influence necessary for the efficient performance of the duties. A European officer has in consequence been appointed at a salary of $2,400 a year.
Page 115Page 116
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.