§ 56. Mr. GRITTENasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to an advertisement in the General Weekly Shipping List by the Customs Fund, under the style of shipping and insurance brokers, forwarding agents, etc., soliciting the consignments of steamers and cargoes, and offering to do Customs clearances, forwarding, sampling, and other classes of work belonging to shipbrokers and shipping firms; and whether, in view of such Government competition with private traders, he will direct the Customs Fund to confine itself solely to its function of timber measuring?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe Customs Fund, established in 1816, is a private insurance society to provide life insurances for the benefit of officers of the Customs and their dependants. It is not a Government undertaking, and its profits accrue, not to the Exchequer, but for the benefit of the persons insured and their dependants. The participation of the Customs Fund in the classes of businesses mentioned does not therefore constitute Government competition with private enterprise, nor was the fund formed for the purpose of timber measuring.