HC Deb 11 November 1912 vol 43 c1736W
Mr. CATHCART WASON

asked the Patronage Secretary to the Treasury whether nominations to the preventive service, made prior to the 26th June, will be considered in due course by the Board of Customs, or if fresh applications should be sent in?

Mr. PERCY ILLINGWORTH

In accordance with the recommendations of the Committee which recently inquired into the Customs Waterguard Service, appointments to the position of Preventive Man will in future be made almost exclusively on the result of a competitive examination limited to boy messengers in the Civil Service. In these circumstances nothing would be gained by considering the very long list of applicants recommended by Members of this House under the old system which has now been abolished.