CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 796, 20 April 1910, Page 6

CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT.

NEW SECEETABY APPOINTED. It was decided at the meeting of Calv wet- yesterday that Mr. Montgomery, chief clerk at the head office, should bo appointed secretary' to the Customs Department vice Mr.- Carter, who has retired on account of having reached lis age-limit. , Mr. Nixon, Collector of Customs at Wellington, was appointed inspector to the Department v in addition to his prosent position.' .-'. • Speaking to a Dominion reporter in regard to the appointments, the Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister for Customs,, 6aid that the offices of secretary and inspector had been for some time combined in the one officer. As a result of the severance of the positions many advantages would accrue. For instance the new. secretary would now be able to devote the whole of his time to work at the head office. As regards the new inspector when he had occasion to be absent from town, arrangements could be made for the transaction' of his duties. Mr. Powlds added that there would probably be some other changes "in the clerical staff at the head office, but there would be no changes affecting the other collectors.

Mr. W. B. Montgomery has been through the whole of the lower branches of Customs work, and for a loug time past has been looked upon as one of the most capable officers in the service. For several years past he has held the position of chief clerk in the head office, and previous to coming to Wellington was stationed at Dunedin. He is a qualified chemist and an artist of no mean order.

Mr. C. S. Nixon succeeded Mr. D. Johnson as Collector of Customs at Wellington abont two years ago. When he was promoted to Wellington Mr. Nixon was Collector of Customs at Napier and prior to that he had held a similar position at Timaru. From what has been seen of Mr. Nixon's work during his official reign in Wellington he should be well Buited as inspector of the Department.