§ MR. STEADMAN (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, with respect to an answer given on 7th July, 1898, in which a refusal was given to supply Customs watchers with uniform, on the ground that 878 the number was still large who left the service after a few weeks or months; whether, in view of the statement made by him that, out of the 343 watchers at present employed in London, 144 have ten years' service, and eighty-six have between three and ten years' service, he is now prepared to reconsider his decision; whether he is aware that a certain number of watchers employed on messenger duty have already been supplied with uniform; and whether it is intended to supply the remainder of the watchers with uniform.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HANBURY,) PrestonI assume that the answer referred to is that which I gave on 4th July, 1898. I stated then that the regulation as to uniform was not enforced rigidly; and as the number of men who leave the service after a few weeks or months is still considerable, I see no reason to reconsider my decision. In April last the Treasury sanctioned the issue of uniform to eight watchers in London and four watchers in Liverpool. These men practically fulfil the duties of messengers; and uniforms are allowed to them in order that they may be more easily recognisable. Their ease is exceptional and affords no argument for the general issue of uniforms.