§ MR. ERNEST GRAYTo ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the date at which the retardation of those examining officers of Customs commenced who received compensation under General Order 15, 1904; whether any officers suffered retardation at or about the same time who have not yet been compensated; whether he can also state the number of officers of over twenty years service who have not yet received compensation; and can he state when their claims will be recognised under the terms of General Order 78. 1S02, and the Board Minute of the 3rd December, 1902.
(Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) The Board of Customs consider that the retardation of the examining officers commenced with the introduction of the new warehousing system in 1882, and accordingly 280 officers who had completed twenty years service by 1st September, 1902, were compensated, and, subsequently by General Order 15, 1904, forty-four others who completed a like service on 31st December, 1902. There remain some seventy-three officers of over twenty years service who have not yet received compensation, and their case is receiving the careful consideration of the Board.