§ MR. HOPWOOD (Lancashire, S.E., Middleton)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury what is the cause of the delay in announcing to the Customs boatmen the promised information of the decision of the Treasury as to their improved pay; whether he will cause inquiry to be made as to the employment of some of their number for over 100 hours a week, taking into account the time necessary for clearing, leaving for the night, or being relieved; and is it the fact that a man entering the service at 20 years of age cannot attain 30s. a-week until he is 45 years of age?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT,) OldhamThe delay is due to some necessary correspondence between the Treasury and the Board of Customs as to minor details; but the delay will not affect the men prejudicially, as the improvements now sanctioned will take effect retrospectively 454 from 1st April, 1891. The second paragraph is assumed to refer to boatmen in London assigned to boarding duty. I am informed that no such officer has been employed for over 100 hours per week; the average attendance per week is from 80 to 90 hours, but for 20 to 25 hours of this time the men are only kept within call, and may devote the time to reading, sleeping, or recreation, as they please. The statement in the last paragraph is not correct even at the old rate of increment, and under the new rate of increment a boatman will reach 30s. a week still earlier than at present.