§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAMI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a case which appeared in the Daily News of the 12th instant, where a Customs' officer was summoned at the Thames Police Court by a seaman for detaining twelve ounces of tobacco and a bottle of Florida water, and to the comments of the Magistrate on the proceedings of the Customs' Authorities; whether, in the inquiry held by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1891, into the complaints of the officers of the Outdoor Department of the Customs, that while superior officers receiving large salaries were granted substantial benefits, the subordinates—namely, boatmen, receiving very low pay, were granted nothing, but sustained pecuniary loss by the abolition of classification, and that, in consequence, a great 1925 deal of discontent prevails amongst the officers of this class; and whether, in view of the temptation to improper exercise of their duties which is caused by the low scale of salaries, the Treasury would grant an improvement in the position of these officers?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHI have nothing to do with the question put by the hon. Member.
§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAMI have had the question on the Paper for more than a week, and I should like to have an answer to it.
§ [No further reply.]