§ Captain W. BENNasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that officials in Nyasaland are being refused home leave; whether the term of their service is from twenty to thirty months and that some of the officials who are being refused leave have served over six years, with bad results to their health; and whether he will take immediate action to remedy this state of affairs?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYThe Governor of Nyasaland has drawn attention to this matter and is most anxious that the officials overdue for leave should be relieved as soon as possible. Owing to the War there are several vacancies on the establishment which are being filled up as quickly as possible, and the return to duty of those who have already been granted leave is being expedited as far as practicable. The number of cases in which the tour of service has exceeded 863W six years is small, but there is no doubt that the tours of service have been unduly long. Pending the restoration of normal conditions I am confident that those whose health demands leave are not being kept in the Protectorate.