§ Mr. GRANTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if at the stations of Blantyre, Zombo, Mlange, Nchen, Chiradzulu, Dedza, Lilongwe, Fort Manning, and Ngara, in British Central Africa, the officials in charge are bachelors, with the exception of Lilongwe, where one of the officials, Mr. Ockenden, is married; if all these stations are considered to be healthy, with good climate; if at the stations of Chiromo, Liwonde, Fort Johnston, Kotakotu, Chinteche, and Karonga, in British Central Africa, the officials in charge are married men in most cases with families, except in the case of Karonga, where one of the three officials is a bachelor; if all these stations are considered to be unhealthy, with disagreeable climates; if the only two married doctors in the Protectorate are stationed one at Fort Johnston and the other at 1987W Karonga; and if he will inquire into this question with a view to altering the present state of affairs?
Mr. HARCOURTThe facts in my possession do not bear out the statements in the hon. Member's question, and, in any case, the assignment of officers to particular stations is a matter for the discretion of the local Government, in the interests of the public service, with which I do not propose to interfere.