The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-11-19 00:00:00

THE INLAND REVENUE AGITATION.

A conference of all ranks of the Excise Department
was held in London last Saturday, in the Victoria-
hall of the Criterion, Piccadilly. The hall was filled,
and out of 91 Excise centres in the United Kingdom
representatives numbering over 100 were present.

The chairman said the object of this meeting was
that a full knowledge of the expectations and deter-
minations of the service may be arrived at. Re-
minding those present of the responsibility resting
upon them as delegates, he said that a distinguishing
feature of this meeting was that it was composed en-
tirely of representatives elected generally by a com-
plete system of voting. The Congress of 1867 did not
possess this fully representative character. It was not
proposed now to follow the course pursued on that occa-
sion. when an attempt was made to force a deputa-
tion. on the B,pard which their honours refused to re-
ceive. They did not propose to embark in an attempt
to reform the department, though at the same time if
the Lords of the Treasury intimated that their de-
mansts could not be granted unless they showed how
the necessary increase of expenditure could be pro-
vided for, they would be prepared to supply such in-
formation. They did not aspire to remodel the de-
partment, but they were not disposed to continue to
receive only about two-thirds of the pay they should
obtain simply that anomalies and absurdities might
flourish. He should have liked to see in addition to the
subjects dealt with in the programme laid before this con-
ference by the London Provisional Committee, attention
called to the serious overwork of officers. They had
been allured into the service by comparatively high
commencing salaries, and after a long apprenticeship
they found that they should have to continue at a
salary only a little above that at which they com-
menced. Their duties were of • a highly technical
character, and those who had mastered those duties
were not to be replaced with as much facility as
clerk-. Nothing, -however, was further from their
intention than to talk of a strike. What they debired
was to claim a reasonable and just rate of pay in fair
proportion to that of other Civil servants who per-
formed analogous duties.
The first resolution was carried unanimously, after
being spoken to by representatives from several places,
and was :—'That the present scale of salaries in all
grades below the collectorship is inadequate :—(1) As
considered with regard to important duties now per-
formed under the Beer Act, and the increased respon-
sibility involved thereby; (2) On account of the hard-
ships and unpleasant incidents attending the recent
changes in the service; (3) As compared with the
salaries of officials performing similar, and in many
instances less arduous and important work, in the
same and in kindred departments of the Civil Service;
(4) On account of the inability of the officials in the
grades mentioned to maintain themselves and their
families in that respectable station in society which
their position entitles them to and their duties
demand."

Several speakers urged that various duties had of
late been imposed upon them. The second resolution,
which was passed unanimously, was as follows :-
4. With a view to meet the pecuniary difficulties in
which we are placed, we submit the following scale
of salaries as being not only equitable remuneration,
but also as an absolute necessity to meet our daily
demands :—(1) That the salary of supervisors cop-
mence at £2BO per annum, and rise by annual in-
crerements of £l2 10s. to £400; and that supervisors
who have been ten years in a district, if not already
receiving a salary of £3OO per annum, be at once
granted such a sum ; and that the existing distinction
of ranks be abolished; (2) That the annual salary of
examiners be £2BO, with present allowances; (3)
That the salary of division officers commence at £l6O
per annum, and rise by annual increments of £lO to
£250; and that all officers who have been ten years in
a division shall at once receive a salary of £2OO per
annum; (4) That the salary of ride officers commence
at £l2O per annum, and rise by annual increments of
£5 to £140; (5) That the salary of first-class assistants
be £lOO per annum permanently.

Other resolutions dealt with the subjects of horse
and subsistence allowances, double duty pay, the
period of annual leave (28 days being asked for), and
the provision of suitable office accommodation or the
granting of an allowance in lieu thereof.