Mr. NANTEL:
The question has not
been decided yet. I .suppose that if the outside service is considered as being on the same footing as the inside service, the same competitive examination may 'be required.
Sir WILFRID LAURIER:
The duties of the various officials in the outside service differ very widely. For instance, I would not ask that the postmasters in the rural districts should be appointed under a system of competitive examination, and the same may he said of lightkeepers and officers of-a similar character. But in the Customs and Excise Departments it seems to me that there is ample reason why such a system should be introduced in respect of the outside service.
Mr. NANTEL:
We already have what
may be called a competitive examination as to promotion.
Sir WILFRID LAURIER:
If the competitive examination system applies to promotion, can any reason be given why it
should not be applied also to first appointments?
Mr. NANTEL:
The first appointment is
generally made this way. The officer is appointed temporarily, and has to pass a Civil Service examination before he is permanently . appointed.
Mr. GRAHAM:
How long does his temporary appointment last?
Mr. NANTEL:
We generally give the
employees time to pass the Civil Service examination.
Sir WIFLRID LAURIER:
How many distilleries are there in Canada and where are they situated ?
Mr. NANTEL:
There are fourteen.
Mr. BOIVIN:
Has the distillery at Beau-port closed or is it still in existence ?
Mr. NANTEL:
It was closed.
Mr. BOIVIN:
When ?
Mr. NANTEL:
Last fall.
Mr. BOIVIN:
How long did the excise officer in the employ of the Government remain at Quebec or at Beauport, doing nothing and still drawing a salary from the Government, before he was transferred? I refer to David Murray, now at Prescott.
Mr. NANTEL:
I am informed he spent one month at Beauport after the closing of the distillery, and was then transferred to Prescott.
Mr. BOIVIN:
Is the minister sure that that information is correct ?
Mr. NANTEL:
I am informed that he was there about a month after the closing of the distillery.
Mr. BOIVIN:
I wish the minister would procure for us the exact date of the closing of the distillery and of the transfer of Mr. Murray to Prescott, and also tell us the duties now performed by Mr. Murray.
Mr. NANTEL:
He is there as a first-class excise man belonging to the division at Prescott. His name appears in the report as being still at Quebec, but, of course, in the next report he will appear in the Prescott division. He receives a salary of $1,500 a year.
Mr. BOIVIN:
I quite agree that the salary paid to Mr. Murray is very reasonable, because I know him personally and he is certainly a competent officer. The information I wanted is as to the duties of this man at Prescott, whom he replaced,
and the factory in which he is employed as excise officer.