SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL&c.) (Kirkcaldy,asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether Her Majesty's Government still feel themselves unable to establish any general rules to restrict, within fitting bounds, the permanent Civil Servants of the Crown, paid to servo the State, from devoting their time and their energies to making money by private avocations, and by accepting appointments from Companies and private firms, in addition to those they hold 430 from the State, especially in the case of the higher Civil Servants, who regulate their own office hours and times of attendance?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir WILLIAM HARCOURT) (Derby), in reply, said, the disadvantage of the practice was obvious. It was equally certain that it was very difficult to lay down an absolute rule which would apply to all cases. He found that, especially among the humbler classes of the Civil Servants, there was a very great objection to their being prevented from taking part in business, especially like the co-operative business, throughout the country, in which they were largely engaged. It was not the intention, and it would be extremely difficult, to lay down any definite rule; and, as at present advised, he saw nothing for it except to deal with particular cases as they arose where such employment seemed objectionable.