§ Mr. SUMMERBELLasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, having regard to the fact that the percentage of supervising waterguard officers in London is nearly double that which obtains at five of the principal outports, and with a view to partially relieving the present stagnation of promotion among the waterguard officers, he is prepared to consider the advisability of recommending that the ratio of higher posts at the outports be brought up approximately to the London standard?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe number of supervising positions on the waterguard establishment depends not only upon the number of officers to be supervised, but upon the varying local conditions of each particular port. I am not prepared to recommend an increase in the number of higher posts which is not justified by the work to be performed.