SUPPLY.—REPORT. (Hansard, 18 July 1887)

§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)
I wish, upon this Resolution, to ask the hon. Gentleman the Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Jackson) whether he can give me the information he promised as to the Belfast Board of Customs, and also the application of Belfast for a City Charter?

§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)
With, reference to the first question mentioned by the hon. Member for West Belfast— 1296 namely, the status of the Customs establishment there, I have to say that there is no classification of Customs' ports in classes. The salaries of the staff are regulated by the amount and character of the general shipping trade of the particular port, and not solely by the amount of revenue collected at the port. There is this peculiarity as to the salaries connected with Belfast and Dublin. The salary of the present Collector at Dublin was £1,000 a-year; and, in fact, £1,000 is paid to the present holder of the office; but by a Treasury Order of the 3rd December, 1885, I think the salary of the Collector at Dublin was reduced to £700 a-year, and when the present officer vacates his office, his successor will not receive more than £700 a-year. I think that answers the hon. Member's question so far as classification goes. With regard to the other question—namely, the Charter which had been applied for for Belfast, it appears that this question has been before the Law Officers in consequence of some difficulties, and that some information was necessary before the case could be put in complete form. I am informed that only to-day was the information received from the Town Clerk of Belfast to enable the case to be put before the Law Officers of the Crown, in order that an answer might be given.

§ MR. SEXTON
The answer of the hon. Gentleman is satisfactory as regards the Charter. There can be no reason for the demand of so important a community as Belfast being refused. But with regard to the classification of ports, I would just point out some anomalies. Take the Port of Bristol. In point of revenue Bristol holds a very low place as compared with Belfast. Yet I understand Bristol holds a higher place than Belfast in respect of classification. Then the receipts at Glasgow are only half what they are at Belfast. The receipts at Glasgow and Hull only equal those at Belfast, yet Belfast holds a lower place than either Glasgow or Hull as regards staff. Whether you consider solely the question of revenue, or the question also of general trade, Belfast is entitled to a higher place in the scale than it receives from the Board of Customs. I am also advised that Belfast is entitled to a more efficient staff than it has at present, and that the Collector of Customs there, who is a highly efficient officer 1297 will be removed to another post, unless the classification is altered. I think the Secretary to the Treasury will find that, although there is no classification, yet there is some list or rating—I think rating is the word. At the present moment I shall press the hon. Gentleman no further than to ask him respectfully to give his attention to the question.

§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)
Upon this Resolution, I wish to ask whether the Secretary to the Treasury will reply to certain questions I put to him in Committee as to the barrier put in the way of the Crofters Act being carried out. It has been in operation now for nearly 12 months, and not a loan has been carried out. I wish to know how long the Government intend this condition of things to remain?

§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)
I am extremely sorry that the hon. Member who raised this question the other day was obliged to leave the House before my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate who was prepared to answer the questions then rose. But I may point out that the share which the Treasury has in the setting of these terms, and of these rules and regulations in regard to lending money to the crofters under this Act, is simply the approving of the rules and transmitting them; and, therefore, the responsibility of drawing up the rules rests with the Scottish Office—at any rate, not with the Treasury. I am merely showing you the share which the Treasury has in the matter, and I am only sorry the hon. Gentleman was not here the other day, because the Lord Advocate was desirous to make his explanation, and would have made it had not the hon. Member gone.