§ Mr. GRANTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if officials going to African Protectorates could be informed before leaving home what particular station will be allotted to them on arrival; and if he is aware that some married officials would not take their wives with them if they knew they were going to be assigned unhealthy stations?
Mr. HARCOURTSo far as possible officials are informed to what station they will be posted on arrival, but this is frequently impracticable owing to the exigencies of the service. As to the second part of the hon. Member's question, married officers are warned against taking their wives out with them until they have acquired personal experience of the local conditions and have ascertained whether suitable accommodation is available. They are further warned that suitable accommodation for European women and children is only available to a very limited extent at certain stations, and that1198W the conditions of life in many parts of the African Protectorates are unsuitable to them.