§ MR. FIELDTo ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is contemplated by the Board of Customs to retain the 1420 services of the secretary to the Board beyond the age of sixty-five; and, if so, whether, seeing that there are competent and qualified men of long service in the Customs capable of performing the duties of this post, he will override the recommendation of the Customs permanent officials and compel this gentleman to retire when he reaches the usual maximum age limit.
(Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. I explained the reason for this officer's retention in answer to a Question by my hon. and gallant friend the Member for the Abercromby Division of Liverpool on the 13th ultimo.†