§ Mr. STANIERasked the Secretary to the Treasury if pressure is being exerted upon country officers of Customs and Excise to use cycles all the year round for travelling in the performance of their duties; whether he is aware that the amount of sick leave granted to country officers suffered a reduction following upon the institution of the present system of travelling in February, 1909; and whether, seeing that a return to cycling will possibly necessitate an increased amount of sick leave, and will tell upon the constitutions of men bordering on or over forty years of age, and tend eventually to premature superannuation, he will give instructions that will leave officers free to select their own method of locomotion subject to the existing checks as to its reasonableness in cost?
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§ Mr. MASTERMANCountry officers of Customs and Excise have for many years been in the habit of using cycles in the performance of their duties, although there have been no Departmental Regulations requiring them to do so. So far as I am aware, there has been no pressure put upon these officers to work their districts by the use of cycles exclusively. There was no alteration in February, 1909, in the system of travelling. It was found necessary at that time to institute a different system of payment for travelling expenses, but there is no reason to suppose that this has affected the amount of sick leave taken by officers. I cannot admit that cycling is an unhealthy form of travelling, and it is obviously convenient and economical in country districts.