§ MR. RITCHIEasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether Her Majesty's Government have arrived at any conclusion with reference to extending the benefit of the Bank Holidays to the employés in the Customs Department and to others who are at present unable to take advantage of them; and, if a conclusion favourable to such extension has been arrived at, what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take for the purpose of carrying it into effect?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, holidays in the Customs are regulated by Act of Parliament, which closes docks throughout the Kingdom on the days on which Custom Houses are ordered to be closed. It will be impossible to extend Bank holidays to all the employés in the Customs without fresh legislation. We find it will be difficult to legislate on this subject, and all we can do is to give instructions to the superintendents to allow as many as possible of the Custom House Officers to take advantage of the Bank holidays.