Turning to the new reforms, the writer welcomes the enlargement
of the Councils as affording increased oppor- tunities of personal contact between Anglo-Indian officials and the better class of Indian politicians, and thus promoting a better mutual understanding. In other respects the changing conditions lay a heavy burden on Civil servants. Increased work, more frequent transfers, over-centralisation in the permanent Departments at the seat of government, and increased cost of living are among the drawbacks and incon- veniences of the Service. But worst of all is the danger of dis- couragement, and the writer utters a weighty protest against the lukewarmness of the Imperial Government and of the Government of India in this regard. Yet in spite of all difficulties and dangers, the Times correspondent continues, the work will attract the best Englishmen so long as they can rely upon fair treatment at the hands of the Mother- country. "If that failed, then there would speedily be an end not only to the Indian Civil Serviee, but to British rule itself." We fear that the protest is well founded.
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