§ SIR HENRY HAVELOCK-ALLAN (Durham, S.E.)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether an officer of Her Majesty's Customs with 30 years' service, performing the duty of acting examining officer at West Hartlepool, has been reduced by order of the Board of Customs for alleged neglect of duty in not boarding a steamer in Hartlepool Bay on the 23rd June last, such steamer at the time being under weigh, and any attempt by the Customs officers in the boat at their disposal in the midst of such a heavy sea to board the vessels being considered and declared upon paper by certified nautical men to be extremely dangerous if not an utter impossibility; and, whether he will inquire into the matter with a view of doing justice to this excellent Customs Officer in so hard a case?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)Anthony Gregory, an outdoor officer in the Customs at West 1711 Hartlopool, has been reduced from being an active examining officer for neglect of duty in not boarding a steamer. The Board considered that, with a boat's crew at his disposal, Gregory could, and should, have boarded the vessel on the occasion referred to. His reduction in rank was, however, not on account of his neglect of duty on that occasion only, but on account of his habitual neglect of it.