23 JANUARY 1915, Page 17

AN EMERGENCY ACT FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS.

[To no Elmo. or no "Sroorrroa."1 SIR,—Men who have been preparing for the examinations of the Civil Service Commissioners have been exposed to a cruel dilemma of late. If they enlist, all hope is ended of Civil Service work. In the circumstances come emergency Act is plainly required. You may think of something better; but, accepting existing principles, the beet thing I have beard of is that the Civil Service Commissioners, who are restricted tightly by statute, should by an emergency statute be directed: (1) to admit nobody to any examination during the war unless under nineteen years of age on January 1st, 1915; (2) in counting ages for admission after the war, to allow a year to be deducted for every month spent in military service, and to allow grace marks to the limit of, say, fifty per cent. of what is earned to all who have served in the Army during the war. Such marks also might be proportioned to length of service. Any vacancies that must be filled at once eoald most properly be filled by promotion of subordinates.— I am, Sir, &c., DATID ALEC WILSON. We think the suggestion an excellent one. The men who have been through the mill of the war are likely to prove excellent public servants.—En. Spectator.]