§ MR. GRIEVEasked, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If he has fully considered Memorials to the Treasury from Outdoor Officers of Customs at the various outports, praying to be placed on the same footing as the clerks, regarding back pay from 1870; and also if he has 1838 considered Memorials from Outdoor Officers at the outports asking to be placed on the same footing as the same officials at Liverpool as regards salary?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, I have not fully considered the Memorials, because we have referred them to the Board of Customs, which has not yet reported. The Memorials are in their hands; and after we have received them and the Report of the Board of Customs, they shall be taken into full consideration. It has always been the custom to pay officers at Liverpool somewhat higher, but not very much, in consequence of the large amount of business which is transacted there. I have not the figures here before me—but they come to this—that while half of all the Customs' business is done in London, about half the remainder, or two-ninths of the whole, is done at Liverpool. It will not be possible, therefore, to put all the out-door officers at the outports in the same position as those at Liverpool, but any advance which may be made in the case of Liverpool officers will extend in proportion to those of the other outports.