§ 44. Mr. Digbyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how long members of the Colonial Service stationed on the Gold Coast have to remain in West Africa before they can be transferred to a healthier climate where they can have their wives and children living with them.
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Creech Jones)There is no set period either for the Gold Coast or other Colonies and it would be quite impracticable to have one. Each Colony has its own civil service, and transfers of individual officers from one Colony to another are dependent on the staff requirements of the different Colonies and must be governed primarily by the public interest.
§ Mr. DigbyIs the fact taken into account that they have had a period of military service in the same area, which actually means that they have been in the same area for seven or eight years?
Mr. Creech-JonesNo, it is open for an officer who feels that he would like a transfer to another Colony to bring that to the notice of the Governor and, when transfers are under consideration in the Colonial Office, due weight will be given to the request.