§ 92. Mr. KILEYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if his attention has been called to the complaint concerning the delivery of a parcel addressed to Messrs. Stewart and M'Donald, Limited, Glasgow, which arrived in Grimsby on 5th November, 1921, and was advised by his Department to Stewart and M'Donald on 3rd February, 1922, in a communication dated 12th January; is he aware that Stewart and M'Donald refused to accept delivery of the goods, as they were for the Christmas trade of 1921; and, in view of the repeated allegations of delays occasioned by the holding up of goods for examination and collection of duties, is he now prepared to appoint a Committee, consisting of persons who are experienced in the export and import trade, so as to devise some method by which these delays can be reduced?
Mr. YOUNGMy attention has been called to the case in question. It is not the case, as implied in the question, that no notice of arrival was sent to the addressee until last month, the usual notice having been despatched on the 12th November. The notice received on the 3rd February was a duplicate, which was forwarded on receipt of an inquiry from the addressee through the postal authorities. As regards the last part of the question, I have investigated a large-number of these complaints, and the proportion in which the responsibility for any undue delay rests with the Customs is extremely small. In the circumstances, I am not prepared to appoint the suggested Committee.