§ MR. DIVETTsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether Memorials have been received in his Department from different classes of Excise Officers for an improvement in their position and salaries, and what course the Government intend to pursue with relation to the same.
MR. WILSONsaid, that memorials on this subject had been received at the Treasury during the last year, signed by 2,049 officers in the Excise Department. The matter had been fully considered at the Treasury, and extensive inquiries had been instituted by the Government to ascertain how far those memorials were well founded. The result of those inquiries had recently been embodied in a Treasury Minute, and the Commissioners of the Inland Revenue had been directed to frame the Estimates for the ensuing year, in conformity with the scale of salaries then decided upon. He felt bound to say, however, that it was with considerable pain that the Treasury had witnessed the public agitation promoted by these officers prior to any decision on their Memorial having been made by the Treasury. He had received many complaints from Members of Parliament, of representations having been forwarded to them by constituents, keepers of public-houses, and others over whom these officers were placed in supervision, urging them to press their claims upon the attention of Government and Parliament. Such a course of proceeding must manifestly be of great detriment to the public service. It was obvious that the discipline of the public service would be lost if public-house keepers and others who traded under the Excise Laws wore to be used as instruments to influence Members of Parliament in urging upon the Government to increase the salaries of any body of public servants. The Minute he had spoken of would be laid on the table with the Estimates.
§ MR. DIVETTWhen?
MR. WILSONsaid, he believed the 1168 Estimates would be ready for presentation next week, and the Treasury Minute would be laid on the table with them.