§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the new syllabus of subjects to be taken by candidates at the Customs and Excise examination announced for 20th February, 1912, is a temporary arrangement, and if a further change is contemplated; and whether in future the Civil Service Commissioners will give longer notice of any change, having regard to the limited time for study available for those who are employed during the day?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe Civil Service Commissioners are not prepared to pledge themselves not to make such alterations in the regulations as experience may prove necessary, but they will do their utmost to give adequate notice should any further change be made.
§ Mr. TOUCHEasked whether, in the syllabus of subjects for the Customs and Excise examination announced for 20th February, 1912, any substantial additions have been made to the subjects hitherto required, making it necessary for the candidates to prepare or revise a subject or subjects in addition to those they have been studying; and, if so, whether the same length of notice has been given as in the case of an additional subject for candidates for second division clerkships?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe scheme of examination for the new post of officer of Customs and Excise is substantially the same as that for the old post of assistant of Customs and Excise, but it includes one extra subject. In view of the requirements of the public service, it was not possible to give the same notice of the new scheme as in the case of the second division, but ample warning has been given for some time past that the old scheme would be changed. I may, perhaps, take this opportunity of saying that the scheme of examination announced for the competition in February next is not to be regarded as final, but as applicable only to this particular occasion.