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Dr. CANTLIE.-Do any of your Inspectors speak Chinese ?
Mr. MCCALLUM.-One speaks it very well; and two or three understand it, and all have now to take it up.
THE PRESIDENT.-Have you any Chinese licentiates in the Department?
Mr. MCCALLUM,-None whatever.
Mr. McCOXACHIE.-What is your present staff?
Mr. MCCALLUM.There are eleven inspectors :-eight in the city, two at Kowloon, and one in the rural districts. Of course, there are watchmen and other officers in addition.
Mr. MCCONACHIE.-Is that your sole staff?
Mr. MCCALLUM.-There are a good many more; I should have to go to the office to get the exact number.
Dr. CANTLIE. You have the scavenging department?
Mr. MCCALLUM.-That is done by contract. I am speaking only of people who are paid monthly salaries. There are the markets and slaughter houses.
THE PRESIDENT.-Am I correctly informed that you are the senior inspector? Mr. MCCALLUM.-I am the Superintendent and Secretary to the Sanitary Board. Dr. CANTLIE.-To whom are you directly responsible ?
Mr. MCCALLUM.-I have always looked upon it that I am directly responsible to the Board.
THE PRESIDENT.-Not to the Colonial Surgeon?
Mr. MCCALLUM.—I have nothing whatever to do with him.
Dr. CANTLIE.-As Superintendent, you are responsible to the Board. As Secretary
are you responsible to it or to the Government directly?
Mr. MCCALLUM.-I should take orders from the Government or from the Board.
THE PRESIDENT.-All your reports go through the Board?
Mr. MCCALLUM.—Everything.
Dr. PRESTON. The Government would not give you an order directly?
Mr. MCCALLUM.-The order would come to me as Secretary and it would then go before the Board; but if urgent I would deal with the matter promptly.
Dr. CANTLIE.-Do you think it would be an advantage to have a medical man at your elbow to advise you?
Mr. MCCALLUM.-It would be an advantage I should think to have a medical man as Health Officer for the Colony.
Dr. CANTLIE.-To yourself and the Board generally do you think it would be of great use?
Mr. McCALLUM.-I am inclined to think so.
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Dr. CANTLIE.-Practically you have been doing the work of Medical Officer of Health, do you think a medical man, who is devoting himself entirely to the shore, could do the port work as well?
Mr. MCCALLUM.—I think one man would be able to do both and do the work well, provided he has no private work and is paid a proper salary.
Dr. CANTLIE.-And he would want a staff?
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