QUESTION. (Hansard, 2 March 1860)

§ MR. MAGUIRE

said, he wished to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to the interests of the public service, the Treasury contemplates, in the revision of the Customs Department which must necessarily take place consequent upon the alterations in the Tariff, placing those Officers on the Superannuation or Redundant List who have hitherto been found unworthy of reward or unfit for promotion; and further, whether any provision will be made for the purpose of bringing forward those Officers, without regard to the mere routine system of promotion, who, from their knowledge of commercial matters, and possessing the confidence of the 2180 mercantile world, are more likely to carry out the new arrangement to the satisfaction of the public.

§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

entirely sympathised with the spirit in which the hon. Member had put his Question. He was probably aware that for many years promotion in the Revenue Department had not been in the hands of the political advisers of the Crown, but had been left to the heads of that Department. That was a very wise arrangement, made originally by Lord Liverpool, and it had worked very well. The promotion which would take place in consequence of these changes would be made by the Treasury, and he certainly thought the hon. Member had given a just description of the principles on which it ought to proceed—namely, that advantage ought to be taken of the opportunity to place on the superannuation list, or even on the redundant list, if necessary, such persons as are of inferior or declining efficiency, on account of age or ill health, and that the consequent promotions ought not to be made in the spirit of routine, but with a view to further improvements in the administration of what he believed was, on the whole, a well-governed service. He hoped the House would not consider it necessary to continue the discussion of the removal of any part of the collections of the British Museum. There were other questions more urgent as to time. It was very inconvenient to keep the commercial interests of London and other places in a state of anxiety and uncertainty. Hon. Gentlemen who had Motions on the British Museum might rest assured that nothing would be done to fetter the free discretion of the House without the fullest discussion of the subject.