§ MR. H. C. RICHARDSI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether the memorial of the extra officers of Her Majesty's Customs, forwarded to the Lords of the Treasury and the Board of Customs in February 1895, is still under consideration; and, if so, at what period of time the memorialists may expect an official answer to such memorial?
§ MR. HANBURYExtra men in London are in some cases ordinary casual labourers paid 3s. 2d. a day, and with no claim to continuous employment, and in other cases they are (so called) permanent labourers paid 19s. or 21s. a week, and with a right to a week's notice before their employment is discontinued. The delay on the part of the Customs in replying to this memorial is really due to the proposed establishment of a new class of men to be called "Customs Watchers," who will, amongst other duties, undertake those on which extra men are now employed. As the grade of outdoor officer is being abolished and a new class is being introduced into the service, some delay has been unavoidable, but the Customs Officials tell me that they hope to report to the Treasury in the course of a fortnight, and I think that we ought to expect definite information from them by that date at the latest.