§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the new rule issued by the principal medical officer of the general hospital of Colombo, prohibiting the admission of native Ceylonese to the paying planters' or passengers' wards; whether this is a violation of the declared objects in view when these wards were built and the practice which has hitherto been observed; whether the hospital is maintained out of public revenue; whether the surveyor and physicians and most of the nurses attached to the hospital are native Ceylonese; and what action he proposes taking in connection with the matter?
§ Colonel SEELYThe hospital is maintained out of public revenue, and I believe that most of the staff are natives of Ceylon. I have no information regarding the introduction of the rule to which my hon. Friend refers, but the Governor will be asked for a report on the subject.