§ Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the recently issued instruction of the Board of Customs and Excise to their Customs collectors and inspectors respecting the taking of the annual leave at undesirable periods throughout the year was to be permanently or only temporarily applied; whether its compulsory application to examining officers and assistants was in equity to be made general, to include clerks and surveyors; why the leave arrangements which had hitherto given general satisfaction were now altered to the disappointment and detriment of the outdoor staff; and whether the new arrangements, owing to a depleted staff and sickness, have already collapsed at some of the outports?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSENo general instructions such as those referred to have been issued. In order to meet temporary circumstances, it has been found necessary at a few ports to minute some of the staff 600 to take a portion of their leave this year in March or November and Devember— months which were previously excluded from the leave "scheme" at these particular ports. There is, therefore, no question of applying this arrangement generally either to one whole class or to the whole staff of the Customs and Excise Department. The arrangements for the leave of officers of all ranks are subject to, and are varied according to, the periodical exigencies of the public service, and it is obviously not always possible to grant every officer his leave during the more desirable months of the year. The Board of Customs and Excise are not aware that the leave arrangements for the current year have collapsed at some of the outports.