§ The effective charge of the Customs Service has fallen from £855,077 in 1882–83 to £739,645 in 1888–89, a decrease of £115,432. During the reorganisation by which this has chiefly been effected, the non-effective charge in the same period has been raised from £155,078 to £198,275, an increase of £43,197, part of which however is due to pensioners over 60 years of age who had already earned their retirement. The immediate net reduction of charge has therefore been £72,235, which will be increased as the non-effective charges fall in. A considerable saving has been effected by the reduction of many separate bonding warehouses and their amalgamation with Inland Revenue Establishments, but large reductions have also been made by more economical methods of administration.*
§ The decrease of £13,928 in the charge for next year is almost entirely due to reductions of establishment.