§ Mr. J. DAVISONasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the meaning of the condition that candidates for the position of officer of Customs and Excise must have received continuous and systematic education up to the age of seventeen; whether attendance at evening school or private tuition of two or three years up to the age of seventeen fulfils the necessary qualification; if not, will he state the reason; whether he is aware that, by laying it down that attendance at evening school is not sufficient qualification, hardship is inflicted on many people who cannot afford to maintain full-time education up to the age of seventeen; and whether he will give instructions that attendance at an evening school shall be considered continuous and systematic education?
1926W
§ Mr. BALDWINThe condition that candidates for the situation of officer of Customs and Excise under the Reconstruction Regulations must have had continuous and systematic education up to the age of seventeen, with certain exceptions, is designed to secure that the intellectual standard of entrants under these Regulations shall approximate to that of entrants under the open competition regulations in. force before the War. Attendance at evening classes is not accepted alone as fulfilling the condition.