CUSTOMS DUTIES. (Hansard, 20 August 1846)

§ MR. HUME

wished to make one remark in reference to this subject. Up to the present time, 640 articles had been struck out of the Tariff, including those of the present Bill, many of which required to be weighed by the custom-house officers, and occasioned great delay, expense, and inconvenience. Now he hoped that during the recess, the Chancellor of the Exchequer would inquire into the duty of every custom-house officer, and that he would be able by next Session to show a reduction of the expense of that establishment to 909 a large amount; for it was impossible that the duties could have been carried on formerly with anything like propriety, if, after dispensing with the entries on so many articles, they could not dispense with a large part of the expense. He would also like to see a reduction of the number of commissioners. There were at present eleven commissioners; and he believed that the duty would be better done with three, provided they were men suited for the situations. He hoped also that in future the appointments to the Boards of Customs and Excise would not be made political appointments; he trusted that men would be appointed because they were fitted for the business, and not because the Government could do nothing else with them. He would mention no names, but it was perfectly well known that individuals had been put in the Customs and Excise because they were good for nothing else. He hoped however, that in future the appointments would be conferred because the parties were efficient men; that responsibility would be created by reducing the number of commissioners; that all the necessary forms connected with the collection of the public revenue would be simplified, and the number of officers reduced as much as possible. If the Government did not do this during the recess, he hoped some Member would early next Session move for a Committee to take the matter into consideration; but it would come much better from the Government, and he hoped they would do it. He wished likewise to see the hours of business extended at the Custom-house. There was great inconvenience experienced in consequence of the Custom-house closing at 4 o'clock. He would have every custom-house in the country kept open from 9 o'clock in the morning until sunset. If it was necessary to advance the salaries of the officers, do it; but by all means he wished to see facilities given for the transaction of business.