§ 66. Mr. Keelingasked the Minister of Transport on what basis priority passages to West Africa are allotted to wives of Government officials, of missionaries and of business men, respectively; and whether he is aware that a recent steamer carried 48 wives and children of Government officials, 27 female missionaries and only five business men's wives.
§ Mr. BarnesTen per cent of the passages to West Africa are reserved by my Department for those travelling on United Kingdom Government account. By agreement between the Colonial Office and the West Africa Passage Committee, representing the shipping companies in the trade, the allocation of the remaining 90 per cent. is shared equally between them. From its share the Colonial Office allots passages for Colonial officials and their families. The Passage Committee provides for other passengers including missionaries, both men and women, and businessmen and their families. The proportion of passages at their disposal on each sailing to be allotted to wives and families is at the discretion of the Colonial Office and the Passage Committee respectively. The figures quoted are for a voyage last December. I am informed that on the four voyages since the beginning of that month the Colonial Office allotment has included 204 wives of officials and the Passage Committee has provided for 88 wives of non-officials and 72 women missionaries.