§ MR. CONYBEARE(for Mr. CUNNINGHAME GRAHAM) (Lanark, N.W.)asked the President of the Board of Trade, If his attention has been directed to the reports in the Press that the hours of duty for Custom House Officers have been recently increased; whether he will do something to put down overtime in this branch of the Public Service; and, if it is true that on some occasions these men work for 24 consecutive hours?
THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON)(who replied) said (Leeds, N.)The average number of hours of duty for Custom House officers has not been recently increased. The outdoor branches of the Custom Service at the busy shipping ports cannot be worked without some overtime; but efforts are constantly being made in the Department to keep it within reasonable limits. It is true that at some of the Customs Waterguard Stations men are kept in attendance for periods of 24 hours for any duty that may be required in connection with the arrival of ships; but these men are not continuously at work, and, as a relief, they usually get the next succeeding period of 24 hours wholly to themselves. Sleeping accommodation is provided at the public expense to men thus kept in attendance for lengthened periods, and cooking utensils and the like are also supplied for their use.