§ MR. GOURLEYasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If any provision has been made in the late reorganization of the Customs Service for the promotion of Clerks of the First Class at the undermentioned Ports, viz. Aberdeen, Cardiff, Dover, Dundee, Exeter, Falmouth, Folkestone, Gloucester, Grimsby, Hartlepool, Limerick, Londonderry, Manchester, Newhaven, Newport, Portsmouth, North Shields, Sunderland, and Swansea; if not, if it be intended to alter the present regulations in order that Clerics of the class mentioned may not be debarred from promotion?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, no provision had been made for the promotion of clerks of the first class at the ports mentioned by the hon. Member. The re-organization referred to did not embrace that question, and it was not the intention of the Board of Customs to make any proposal 509 on the subject. The matter was a very complicated one. It was connected with the whole question of the re-organization of the service, and would affect many classes of officials other than the clerks of the first class, He believed the subject had been brought under the consideration of the Commission which was now sitting, under the presidency of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the University of Edinburgh (Mr. Lyon Playfair.)