§ Mr. JOHN MURPHYasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that in the Customs Statistical Office assistant clerks are required to exhibit special merit in order to obtain a checking allowance of £30 per annum; further special merit to obtain promotion to minor staff officer; and still further special merit to obtain promotion to a port clerkship; that there are four assistant clerks who have each been employed in that office over 28 years, who have completed five years on the maximum salary of £150, and who have exhibited such special merit as to be entrusted with the responsible duty of checking and supervising the work of other 568W assistant clerks; and if he will state if there is a still further degree of special merit, differing from any of the above, now required from these men to enable them to obtain the increase of £10 in accordance with the Treasury Circular of December last?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSE"Checking" allowances are assigned in strict order of seniority to those assistant clerks who are certified to be efficient and of good character. For the other situations referred to in the question special merit of varying degrees which cannot, however, be precisely defined, is required.