§ THE EARL OF MOUNT EDGCUMBEasked, Whether a memorial signed by 100 collectors of customs at the out-ports, and forwarded to the Lords of the Treasury on the 20th of November last, has yet been taken into consideration; and, if so, when the memorialists will probably be made acquainted with their Lordships' decision?
LORD THURLOW,in reply, said, that the Treasury had so recently as 1879 settled, in connection with the Board of Customs, a scheme for the clerical service of the ports. The Board of Customs did not, however, consider it neces- 1707 sary, as a part of that revision, to submit to the Treasury any change in the salary and position of the collectors. Their present appeal to the Treasury was founded upon the alteration made in their relative positions. The cost of the clerical service at the ports had already been most seriously increased—by not less than £1,000 a-year. The Treasury would certainly consider, before they presented another Estimate to Parliament, whether any change ought to be made in the salaries or otherwise of the collectors; but it must be well understood that the Lords of the Treasury would be guided in their decision by no consideration whatever except the efficiency and discipline of the service—apart from which they could give no weight to comparisons between what was at one time and what was now the remuneration of different classes. He feared it was not in his power to give the noble Earl any further information on this subject; but he trusted he would gather from his reply that the Memorial to which he had referred had certainly not escaped the serious attention of the Department to which it was addressed.
§ House adjourned during pleasure at 12.15 A.M.
§ House resumed at 12.55 A.M.
§ The Lord MONSON—Chosen Speaker in the absence of The LORD CHANCELLOR and The Lord COMMISSIONER.