§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, under General Order 2–1897, Customs watchers are authorised by the Board of Customs to charge overtime before and after the legal Customs hours when employed on certain 531 duties, the overtime in all such cases being paid for by the Dock Companies and wharfingers; whether he is aware that on some stations in the port of London watchers are allowed to charge overtime under this order, and en other stations are prevented from doing so by the Customs authorities, although the duties performed are identical; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made on the different stations with a view to equality of treatment throughout the port of London?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonI believe that the regulations of the Order referred to are observed at all the stations in the port of London, and that there is not any irregularity of treatment of the watchers employed.