§ MR. TUITE (Westmeath, N.)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, How many out-door officers of Customs who had completed the prescribed three years' service, and whose conduct and abilities had never been questioned, wore debarred from the examination held in 1886 for out-port clerkships; and also from the examination held in January, 1888, for Examining Officers of Customs; and, whether the officers in each of the cases referred to wore debarred solely in consequence of private Reports made by the collectors, and of which the officers had no intimation whatever; and, if so, will the Board of Customs inform the officers of the nature of the charges made against them, and afford them an opportunity of replying thereto?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)I am informed that no single officer was refused permission to compete at either of the examinations mentioned under the circumstances stated in the Question. This being so, it is unnecessary for me to answer the second paragraph of the Question.