A DEPUTATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4985, 15 March 1877, Page 3

A DEPUTATION.

A deputation waited upon the Commissioner of Customs yesterday, consisting of Messrs. George Hunter, W. M. Bannatyne, J. Harcoart, and S. Carroll, relative to the necessity of employing an increased staff of Custom House officers.

Mr. Hunter, in introducing the deputation, stated that the object they had in view was to bring under the notice of the Government one or two subjects of importance as affecting the commerce of the city. It was considered that the Customß Department was at present undermanned, the business of Wellington having increased to such a considerable extent. It was a great object that facilities should be afforded for the shipping and discharging of goods, as Wellington was ft port of call for the steamers, and had also a large general shipping trade. He added that the subject had been brought under the notice of Mr. Bannatyne, and the result was that a deputation was appointed to wait upon the Commissioner of Customs and inquire into the matter.

Mr.BANNATTNE remarked that the circumstances of the case were precisely as Mr. Hunter had stated, and that he had acted in the matter at the instance of one or two commercial gentlemen who had had a good deal of business at the Custom House lately. They requested him to bring before the Chamber of Commerce the fact that the Customs was not as well found in servants as it might be, and that in conseqnence the business got into arrear, and the persons interested were very often subjected to inconvenience and delay. It was on this ground, therefore, that he (the speaker) was asked to bring the matter under notice. He felt, however, it was only fair to state that those who had complained afterwards seemed to tone down a little, having found that one of the officers, who had always displayed a desire to facilitate business, was absent from duty during the time that the want of sufficient hands was experienced, and that consequently the authorities were not so much to blame. As he had gone so far, however, as to bring it before the Chamber of Commerce, who had then appointed a deputation to wait upon the Commissioner of Customs, he considered he was only doing his duty in actiner as he did. The gentlemen who made the representations to him were of opinion that an improvement might be made in the department in connection with the wharf work ; but he personally wished to guard himself against the idea that he was entering a complaint against the Custom House.

Mr. Hunter said they had no complaint to make; the object was to increase the number of subordinate officers—those who did the running about. Mr. Habcourt believed the present Customs staff at Wellington was smaller than when the trade of the port was considerably less, perhaps not more than half its present extent. One officer had so many/ships under his control that it was impossible he could give to each the attention he should give, and in many cases merchants had been unable to get possession of their goods for three weeks or a month. This remark related chiefly to importations of spirits. He believed the appointment of a gauger would relieve the landing waiters, and merchants could then get their goods made up. At present each officer had so much to do that he could not properly attend to his duties.

Mr. McLean said, in reference to Mr. Harcourt's remark as to the reduction of the staff of Custom House officers, that he was glad to be in a position to say that the number of officers, not only at this port, but at every port in the colony, had been very much reduced. The other complaints, however, surprised him. The Government did not pretend to keep a large staff of officers to do the regular routine work. There was always at hand a number of persons who could be temporarily employed, and the department was always careful that trade should not be restricted for the sake of employing a few extra hands. Being an old merchant himself, he sympathised greatly with the deputation, and would always endeavor to facilitate trade. As the complaint had been made he would enquire into it, but he must say that he had never heard a murmur of the kind before. After further discussion, Mr. Hunter remarked that probably Mr. McLean was aware that there was sometimes a great press of business here, while at others there was little to do. It must be obvious that when there was a press more officers were required to get through the business than at other times. Mr. McLean stated that he was fully alive to the fact, and that was the reason extra men were sometimes temporarily employed, as must have been obvious to Mr. Hunter ; but if the Government were to keep a permanent staff equal to doing all the work ia the busiest times, they would have a lot of ornamental men tumbling over each other at other times. Mr. Hunter pointed out that the deputation were not actuated by selfish motives, but that it was to the interest of people in other parts of the colony that the greatest possible facilities should be afford otl for the despatch of vessels from this port. They were all interested in the steamer traffic, and despatch and regularity were beneficial to all alike. He wished it to be understood that the deputation was not making a selfish complaint for the benefit of Wellington only, the whole colony was interested.

Mr. McLean said he was not a red-tape man, and the deputation might rely upon his making any alterations which common sense and reason might dictate. The subject of the storage of kerosene was then introduced.

Mr. Bannatyne said that the Mayor had informed a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce that the City Council would probably erect a kerosene store, if the Customs, authorities would grant a license for it. The deputationalso represented to the Commissioner of Customß that the importers of kerosene considered it a great hardship that they should have to pay duty on that article before it was put into bond. Mi 1 . Hunter said the main point was this: if the Corporation, as was proposed, put upa store, and divided it into two parts, whether the Government would allow one part to be used as a bonded store. Mr.'McLean said there could be no reason why it should not be allowed, provided it was a proper kerosene store. Mr. Seed, the Secretary of Customs, said there was really no bonded warebouse in existence at present, but that if there was a proper bonded store for kero-

eene 'the duty would[not have; to be paid beforehand. The store at present -used for the purpose"was not a proper''bonded store, ahd : hp application had ever, been made for such a store. ."■'•" ! ," .

Mr. McLean said that if a proper bonded store were found, he had no,doubt that importers here would be put upon the same footing as importers in other cities in the colony. The deputation then thanked Mr, McLean, and withdrew.