§ MR. FINIGANasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether it is true that the Civil Service writers employed in Her Majesty's Customs, who have served more than seven years, and who have been recommended by their respective principals as eligible for promotion to the lower division of their clerks, are to be deprived of their pay during the time of their examination, in addition to being required to pay an examination fee of one pound?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, there will be a difficulty in 685 carrying on the Public Service if every matter of minute detail is to he made matter of communication in this House. But I may say that I have made inquiry into this subject, and I find that it has been arranged in the Office of the Accountant General of the Customs that writers should attend for examination and then go to the Custom House and complete their day's work, so that business should not get into arrear. That is in the Accountant General's Department; but in the other Departments this cannot be arranged, and, therefore, as many days' leave will be granted to writers who are entitled to holidays with pay as they have holidays due to them. But if no holidays are due to them, they cannot go except by sacrificing their day's pay.