§ MR. KIMBERI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, on the day preceding the day on which the new duty on tea and other articles came into force, over 100 firms presented themselves at the Customs, money in hand, to withdraw goods out of bond within the usual hours of the Customs offices being open for that purpose, but were unable to do so in time in consequence of the office being closed prematurely, and many who were there in time were thereby prevented from paying their money, and in consequence have had to pay a higher rate of duty; whether any instructions were given by the Treasury to the Customs officers authorising them to reduce the time or facilities for paying such duties; and whether Her Majesty's Government are under obligation at all times to provide such facilities (that is, clerks or tellers and office accommodation) as will enable traders to freely withdraw their goods from bonded warehouses.
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHA large number of firms attempted, unsuccessfully, to pay duty, at the London Custom House, on the 5th inst. within the usual hours. They were prevented from paying not by a premature closing of the office (which was not closed before the usual hour), but by the crowd. The instructions given by the Treasury to the Board of Customs, with regard to both London and the whole country, were not to reduce the time or facilities for payment, but to abstain from extending the same. Her Majesty's Government hold that the obligation to provide facilities to traders for the withdrawal of their goods from bonded warehouses is limited by the ordinary conditions of hours and staff.