ANNO SEXTO GEORGII IV. REGIS. CA P. CVI. An Act for the Management of the Customs. [5th July 1825.] WHEREAS an Act was passed in the present Session of Parliament, intituled An Act to repeal the several 6 G. 4. c. 105. Laws relating to the Customs, in which it is declared, that the Laws of the Customs have become intricate, by reason of the great Number of Acts relating thereto which have been passed through a long Series of Years, and that it is therefore highly expedient, for the Interests of Commerce and the Ends of Justice, and also for affording Convenience and Facility to all Persons who may be subject to the Operation of those Laws, or who may be authorized to act in the Execution thereof, that all the Statutes now in force relating to the Customs should be repealed, and that the Purposes for which they have from Time to Time been made, should be secured by new Enactments, exhibiting more perspicuously and compendiously the various Provisions contained in them: And whereas by the said Act all the Laws relating to the Customs will be repealed; and it is expedient to make Provisions for the Management of the Customs, and of all Matters connected therewith, by the Appointment of proper Persons to manage the same, after such Repeal shall have effect; be it therefore enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That from and after the Commencement Fifth Day of January One thousand eight hundred and of Act. twenty-six, this Act shall come into and be and continue in full Force and Operation for the Management of the Customs. Board of Customs, Thirteen Commissioners; and Four As sioners for Scotland and Ireland. II. AND be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for His Majesty from Time to Time to appoint (1), under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, any Number of sistant Commis- Persons, not exceeding Thirteen, to be Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs for the Collection and for the Management (2) of the Customs in and throughout the whole of the United Kingdom, and of any of His Majesty's Possessions abroad; and also to appoint any Number of Persons, not exceeding Four, to be Assistant Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs, to sit and act in manner herein-after mentioned in and for Scotland and Ireland; and that each of such Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners, when so appointed, shall have and hold his Office during His Majesty's Pleasure. Treasury may appoint Commissioners and missioners for Scotland or Ireland. III. AND be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the Lord High Treasurer of the United Kingdom of Assistant Com Great Britain and Ireland, or for the Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, from Time to Time to order and direct any One or more of such Commissioners, together with Two such Assistant Commissioners, to sit and act as Commissioners for executing and directing the Business of the Customs in Scotland and Ireland respectively, under the Controul and Direction of the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs sitting and acting in England. Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners subject to the IV. AND be it further enacted, That the said Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners so appointed or to be appointed by His Majesty shall, in all Matters and Things Controul of the relating to the Execution of their Duties, be subject to Treasury. the Authority, Directions, and Controul of the Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, and shall obey such Orders and Instructions as shall from Time to Time be issued to them by the said Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury under the Hands of Three or more of them. Orders under the Hands of Commissioners. V. AND be it further enacted, That every Order, Document, Instrument, or Writing, not being for the Payment of Money, required by any Law at any Time in force to be under the Hands of the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs, being attested by the Signatures of (1) See previous Appointments, § 6. (2) All Duties, Bounties, and Drawbacks of Customs to be under the Management of the Commissioners, Cap. 107. § 117. Two or more of such Commissioners in England, and every such Order for the Payment of Money, being attested by the Signatures of Three or more of such Commissioners in England, and every Order, Document, Instrument, or Writing, being attested by the Signatures of Two or more of such Commissioners or Assistant Commissioners in Scotland and Ireland (1) respectively, shall be deemed to be an Order, Document, Instrument, or Writing under the Hands of the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs accordingly. VI. AND be it further enacted, That any Appointment Previous Apof Commissioners, or of Assistant Commissioners of His pointments to Majesty's Customs, in force at the Time of the Com- remain in force. mencement of this Act, shall continue in force as if the same had been afterwards made under and by virtue of the Authority of this Act. toms. Allowances and VII. AND be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful Appointment of for the said Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, or necessary Offor the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs under the ficers of CusAuthority of the said Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, to appoint (2) proper Persons, to execute the Duties of the several Offices necessary to the due Management and Collection of the Customs, and all Matters connected therewith, under the Controul and Direction of the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs; granting or Salaries and allowing to such Persons such Salaries or other Allowances, or permitting such Emoluments for the Labour and Responsibility in executing the Duties of their respective Offices or Employments, and requiring of such Persons such Securities for their good Conduct therein as the said Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury shall deem to be reasonable and necessary; and such Persons shall hold their Offices during the Will and Pleasure of the said Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, or the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs sitting and acting in England, in such Cases and in such Manner as the said Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury shall direct. VIII. AND be it further enacted, That every Person employed on any Duty or Service relating to the Customs, and Sub-Commissioners, see § 32, 33, 10. Persons employed by Cus toms deemed Officers for such Service. Officers taking ward not allowed, shall be dismissed. by the Orders or with the Concurrence of the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs (whether previously or subsequently expressed), shall be deemed to be the Officer (1) of the Customs for that Duty or Service. IX. AND be it further enacted, That if any Officer (2), any Fee or Re- Clerk, or other Person acting in any Office or Employment in or belonging to the Customs, under the Controul and Direction of the Commissioners of the Customs in any Part of His Majesty's Dominions, shall take or receive any Fee, Perquisite, Gratuity, or Reward, whether pecuniary or of any other Sort or Description whatever, directly or indirectly, from any Person (not being a Person duly appointed to some Office in the Customs), on account of any thing done or to be done by him, in or in any way relating to his said Office or Employment, except such as he shall receive under any Order or Permission of the said Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, every such Officer so offending shall, on Proof thereof to the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs, be dismissed from his Office; and if any Person (not being a Person duly appointed to some Office in the Customs), shall give, offer (3), or promise to give any such Fee, Perquisite, Gratuity, or Reward, such Person shall, for every such Offence, forfeit the Sum of One hundred Pounds. Penalty 1007. for offering Fee. Previous Appointments and Securities to remain in force. Oath of Office. X. AND be it further enacted, That all Commissions, Deputations, and Appointments granted to any Officers of the Customs, in force at the Time of the Commencement of this Act, shall continue in force, as if the same had been afterwards granted under and by virtue of the Authority of this Act; and that all Bonds, which shall have been given by any such Officers and their respective Sureties for good Conduct or otherwise, shall remain in full Force and Effect. XI. AND be it further enacted, That every Person who shall be appointed to any Office or Employment in the Service of the Customs, under the Controul and Direction of the Commissioners of the Customs in any Part of His Majesty's Dominions shall, at their respective (1) See Evidence of being an Officer, Cap. 108. § 105. See § 29; also Admissions thereto, take the following Oath; (that is to say), IA.B. do swear to be true and faithful in the Execution, to the best of my Knowledge and Power, of the Trust ' committed to my Charge and Inspection in the Service of His Majesty's Customs; and that I will not require, take, or receive any Fee, Perquisite, Gratuity, or Reward, 'whether pecuniary or of any Sort or Description whatever, either directly or indirectly, for any Service, Act, Duty, Matter, or Thing done or performed, or to be done or performed, in the Execution or Discharge of any ' of the Duties of my Office or Employment, on any Account 'whatever, other than my Salary, and what is or shall be allowed me by Law, or by any special Order of the • Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury or the Com'missioners of His Majesty's Customs for the Time being. 'So help me GOD.' XII. AND be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, by their Warrant from Time to Time, to appoint the Hours of general Attendance of the Commissioners and respective Officers of the Customs, and other Persons in the Service of the Customs, at their proper Offices and Places of Employment; and that it shall be lawful for the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs to appoint the Times, during such Hours, at which any particular Parts of the Duties of such Officers, and other Persons respectively, shall be performed by them. Hours of Attendance and Division of Hours. Service in those XIII. AND be it further enacted, That no Day shall Holidays. be kept as a Public Holiday by the Customs, except Christmas Day and Good Friday in every Year, and any Days appointed by His Majesty's Proclamation for the Purpose of a General Fast or of a General Thanksgiving, and also the Anniversaries of the Birth Day of His Majesty, and of His Successors. XIV. AND be it further enacted, That the Collector of the Customs in the Port of London shall pay into the Hands of the Receiver General of the Customs the Whole of the Monies which he shall receive on account of the Duties of Customs, on the Day on which he shall receive the same, or as near the Whole as may be, save and except such Sum or Sums of Money as shall from Time to Time, |