§ MR. D. SULLIVAN (Westmeath, S.)On behalf of the hon. Member for North Louth, I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer will he explain why, notwithstanding the assurance given by him on the 16th March last that the Board of Inland Revenue had no intention of replacing first-class officers in Dublin excise warehouses by assistants, on the first vacancy that occurred, a first-class officer in Dublin 18th Station has been replaced by an assistant; and was the recent appointment of a first-class officer to that station subsequently cancelled by the Board of Inland Revenue.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS-BEACH,) Bristol, W.The facts as stated in the question are correct, but the answer given on the 16th of March last must have been misunderstood. It had reference to a scheme by which it was proposed to abolish first-class officers in Dublin, and supply their places with assistants of Excise. After consideration, this scheme was rejected. It would be quite impossible for the Board to give an undertaking not to substitute junior for senior officers, or vice versâ, in Dublin or elsewhere, as occasion requires. This is constantly being done to meet the exigencies of the service or the fluctuating conditions of trade.