§ DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether it is the case that the Court of Policy of the Colony of British Guiana have passed a Resolution requesting the Secretary of State for the Colonies to remove the Medical Inspector of Estates Hospitals from his office; whether this action of the Court of Policy is traceable to a Report made by that officer in the course of his duties which was considered to have "injuriously reflected on the planters;" and, whether it is the intention of the Colonial Secretary to comply with this demand without investigating the correctness, or otherwise, of the allegations contained in the Report?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)The Combined Court have passed a Resolution 435 of the nature suggested in the first paragraph of the hon. Member's Question. The action of the Court is understood to be the result of dissatisfaction on the part of the members with the manner in which the officer has discharged the duties of his office; and particularly with certain statements in an Official Report made by him, which they consider to have reflected unjustly on the employers of immigrant labour. The Secretary of State has received such conflicting statements supporting and contradicting the allegations in the Report that he would be unable to arrive at a conclusion as to their correctness without a Commission of Inquiry; and he has not considered the question to be of sufficient importance to justify the expense of such a Commission. He had already decided, before receiving this Resolution of the Court, to transfer the officer in question to another appointment in the Colonial Service.