§ 11. Mr. John Hallasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the European judges of the High Court in the Gold Coast are excluded from the benefits of the retirement terms provided under the Gold Coast (Constitution) Order in Council, 1954.
§ Mr. HareThe retirement terms provided under the Gold Coast (Constitution) Order in Council, 1954, were intended to meet the altered conditions of service of public service officers; these were not applicable to judges.
§ Mr. HallIs it not a fact that in both Ceylon and the Sudan there was no discrimination between judges and expatriate civil servants? Is it not a little unfortunate, to say the least, that this discrimination should apply in this case?
§ Mr. HareI would rather not say anything more at the moment. I should like to tell my hon. Friend, however, that the Gold Coast Government are considering this matter and are likely to make a decision fairly soon.
Mr. Creech JonesWill the Minister give his most sympathetic attention to this problem, because of the danger of a breakdown of the judiciary in the Gold Coast unless some amends are made? These judges alone have been excluded from the general terms governing all the expatriate civil servants.
§ Mr. HareI can assure the right hon. Member that my right hon. Friend has the greatest sympathy with what he has just said.