Enclosure 3.
1414346
C
RECO REDP & JUN S
Minute by the Captain Superintendent of Police.
Hon. Col. Sec.,
P.C. Thomson has 8 years and 3 months' service.
He had 9 months' leave from March 1896 and is therefore not entitled to leave.
He went to hospital on 5th April, 1898, with rheumatism in the ankle probably the result of frequent wettings and exposure at fires, he being a member of the Fire Brigade.
He was discharged from hospital on 5th October 1898 (nearly 6 months in hospital) with only partial use of his foot.
He was sent to Water Police when he has little walking to do and he has now been over 50 days in hospital again with the same rheumatic ankle.
There is a precedent for special leave in C.3.0.356 of 1887 and I recommend that Thomson be granted 6 months' leave on half pay to visit England and undergo an operation.
His passage can be defrayed from the departmental vote for passages and he should not be entitled to leave again till 5 years after his return to the Colony.
(Signed) F.H. May.
8/4/99.
He should not be allowed to return to the Colony unless he is certified as fit for Police work by the Colonial Office Doctor.
(Signed) F.H. May.