§ 21. Mrs. WINTRINGHAMasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the retrenchments proposed by the Government in Fiji include the closing wholly or in part of the Indian hospital at Suva, and the dismissal of Dr. Staley, whose work during the past two years for the Indian women 490 and children in the Fijian group of islands has been repeatedly and publicly Spronounced to be of the highest value to the whole community?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREDr.Staley was engaged by the Government of Fiji for two years only and the term of her temporary appointment will expire shortly, Retrenchments in medical and other, establishments in Fiji are urgently necessary for financial reasons, and although the final recommendations have not yet been received, the Secretary of State would not be justified in urging the continuance of any particular appointment against the wishes of the Colonial Government.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI should be very glad to receive further evidence on that point, but the situation, even with the suggested economies, is that the expenditure at Fiji is £420,000 and the revenue is only £360,000, and we have got to cut down everywhere we can.