§ MR. MCCARTANI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether he can now state what progress has been made in the adjustment of the claims of the Outdoor Officers of Her Majesty's Customs, as set forth in a petition presented to the Treasury on the 8th February 1895?
§ MR. HANBURYThe Treasury directions on the recommendations of the Board of Customs on the subject of this Question were issued by the Customs Department on the 25th November last. The necessary steps for carrying these directions into effect were at once taken 1642 in hand, but as they involved, amongst many other details, an examination, in communication with the Civil Service Commissioners, of nearly the whole of the existing class of Outdoor Officers, numbering over 600, the final adjustments have not yet been completed. It is expected, however, that the result of the examination will be known in a few days, and the Board of Customs will then be in a position to proceed with final arrangements for the introduction of the new conditions for this class of officer as sanctioned by the Treasury. I may add that, so far as the new scheme will result in change of pay or position to any officer, such change will be antedated to 1st January last.