§ Mr. Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the 199W increasing importance of the African members on the staff, both in regard to efficiency and numbers, recorded in the recent Report of the Department of Public Works of Nigeria, he can state whether a development in this direction is taking place in other West African dependencies?
Mr. M. MacDonaldYes, Sir. Although, owing to financial reasons, the staffs of the Public Works Departments in the Gold Coast and Sierra Leone have decreased in actual numbers, the proportions of African to European officials have shown a tendency to increase in recent years. Schemes are in course of preparation in these Dependencies for the training of Africans to fill higher posts in the technical departments.