MR. HEATHCOTE (Staffordshire, N.W.)asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, What information he has as to the absence, on leave or otherwise, of the principal Government officials of British Guiana; and, whether it is the fact that recently there was an Acting Governor, an Acting Colonial Secretary, an Acting Attorney General, an Acting Puisne Judge, an Acting Receiver General, an Acting Registrar, an Acting Chief Commissary, an Acting Solicitor General, an Acting Surgeon General, an Acting Inspector of Hospitals, and an Acting Stipendary Magistrate, the actual holders of these posts being either away on leave of absence or performing the work of some absent official?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir HENRY HOLLAND) (Hampstead)All leaves when granted are reported to the Secretary of State. The statement in the second paragraph is substantially correct. It is the fact that four principal officers — namely, the Governor, the Attorney General, a Puisne Judge, and the Receiver General—left the same day for three months' leave, which is due after two years' residence. This, of course, led to several acting appointments. It does not appear that injury or inconvenience to the Public Service has been caused by these temporary arrangements; and this was the most convenient time of the year for officers to go on leave, as the legislative work was all concluded and the combined Court closed. The Governor and the Puisne Judge have already returned; the Attorney General will be back on October 6, and the Receiver General on September 22.