§ MR. T. M. HEALY(for Mr. JUSTIN HUNTLY M'CARTHY) (Newry)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that, by the Customs Regulations, permission to attend examinations for situations in other Departments will not be granted to outdoor officers of less than two years' approved service exclusive of probation; whether the effect of this Rule is to prevent out-door officers from entering the Excise or Lower Division Departments; and, whether, as no such Rule is in force in any other Department of the Service, and considering that Customs officers are the worst paid men in the Service, the initial pay for the first year being only £55, the Government see their way to altering the Regulation?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)(who replied) said, the Rule was correctly stated by the hon. Member. It was adopted in order to obviate the inconvenience caused to the Customs Service by persons entering the Department with no intention of remaining in it. To some extent it might check the entrance of Customs officers into the Excise or Lower Division; but, in the interests of the Customs Service, it was thought desirable to maintain the Rule.