The middle-class Englishman may be a Philistine and some- what
prone to fill his belly with the east wind of catchpenny phraaes. When, however, he comes to the actual work of governing, he seldom fails to show himself sound and com- petent. Witness Mr. Henry Fowler's performance in the House of Commons on Wednesday, during the discussion on the financial position of India. He had to answer Mr. Paul's -complaint that the Government had defied the House of Commons' resolution which in effect ordered simultaneous examinations for the Civil Service to be held in India and Englani. Mr. Fowler did not seek to avoid the question or to shelter himself behind the opinion of the Indian Govern- ment. He simply informed the House in respectful language that the resolution was nonsense, and would not be carried out. Competition, he told them, is not the best means of selecting natives to the highest-ranked places. It might be necessary in Europe in order to check nepotism, but in India nepotism is impossible. Trial by actual employment forms a competitive examination of the best kind.
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