HC Deb 22 June 1876 vol 230 cc251-2
MR. M'CARTHY DOWNING

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether any reply has yet been vouchsafed to the Memorial signed by 923 clerks and officers of Customs, praying for an immediate amelioration of their condition, which Memorial was forwarded to the Treasury by the Commissioners of Customs early in last April; and, if not, when it may be?

MR. W. H. SMITH

In reply to the Question of the hon. Member, I beg to state that a Memorial signed by 923 clerks and officers was received, but it was direct from them. It has been referred to the Board of Customs, but no Report has been received. The following letter has been placed in my hands, and I understand it has been widely circulated. It is dated from the Accountant and Controller General's Office, Her Majesty's Customs, London, E.C., 20th June, 1876:— Dear Sir,—The present Session is rapidly drawing to a close, and our claims for increased pay have not yet been properly met by Her Majesty's Government.

MR. M'CARTHY DOWNING

I rise to Order. Is the hon. Gentleman justified in reading a letter in answering a Question?

MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member can do so in the exercise of his discretion if he so desires.

MR. W. H. SMITH

The letter is as follows:— Accountant and Controller General's Office, H. M.'s Customs, London, E.C. 20th June, 1876. Dear Sir,—The present Session is rapidly drawing to a close, and our claims for increased pay have not yet been properly met by Her Majesty's Government. It behoves us either to put on a "spurt" at this juncture or to suffer with what patience we can another year's delay. The general opinion here is that a combined and well-directed attempt should at once be made to obtain for our memorial (which was forwarded to the Lords of the Treasury on the 5th of April last) an early and favourable consideration. This end cannot be better attained than by everyone in the Customs Service at once asking his representatives in Parliament, as well as any other Members to whom he can obtain access, to bring the matter without delay individually, collectively, by question, by deputation, or in any manner which may be deemed most effective, under the notice of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, or of the financial Secretary to the Treasury. I, therefore, earnestly request that you will, without delay, write to your representatives in Parliament, asking them to use their influence in the direction above indicated. There is every reason to believe that a strong and united effort of the whole service, even at this eleventh hour, would ensure our complete success. Trusting to hear from you very soon, I have the honour to remain, dear Sir, your obedient servant, John M. BAMFORD. I need not say that a letter of this description circulated among officers of the Customs must place great difficulty in the way of the Treasury in dealing with a respectful Memorial presented to the Treasury. I trust the House will consider it was an unfortunate attempt on the part of an officer of Customs to obtain consideration for the Memorial.