§ Mr. GRIFFITHSasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the water-guard officers of the Customs and Excise, on account of their intimate knowledge of and close association with affairs relating to shipping and passenger traffic, have performed varied and responsible duties for other public Departments in addition to their ordinary Revenue functions; that this system of co-ordination of duties prevented duplication and waste, and ensured the simultaneous performance of various duties, thus avoiding delays in shipping; that the administration of the Aliens Act, 1905, was entrusted to these officers and carried out to the entire satisfaction of his Department and the Board of Customs and Excise; that the long experience of these officers has helped them to acquire knowledge peculiarly valuable in dealing with 1472W aliens; that on the outbreak of war the work was considerably increased, with the result that the staff of alien officers was augmented by men recruited from outside and whether, in connection with the administration of the Aliens Restriction Bill, he will favourably consider the claims of the waterguard officers to do this work, in view of the fact that it formerly offered a channel of promotion, arid, in common with other trades and occupations, the prewar custom should be restored to them?
§ Mr. SHORTTI agree generally with the statements made in the first five paragraphs of the question, and it does not detract from my appreciation of the ability, discretion and zeal with which officers of the Customs staff have performed their duties in this connection if I say that the work of dealing with alien passengers at the approved ports under the Aliens Order, 1919, will be so heavy and complicated as compared with similar work under the very restricted provisions of the Aliens Act, 1905, that it is necessary to organise a separate Immigration staff under the direct control of my Department. I can add that I hope to be able to make arrangements with the Commissioners of Customs and Excise whereby waterguard officers will be able to offer themselves for service on the Immigration staff.