(1) Any act or thing required or authorised by any customs enactment to be done by the Comptroller may be done by any officer authorised generally or specifically in that behalf, in writing or otherwise, by the Comptroller, except that where, for any reason, the post of Comptroller for any time is unfilled, any authorisation given by a previous Comptroller which has not been revoked shall continue in force until revoked by any person subsequently appointed as Comptroller.