The Government has made a rather unusual selection for the
Legislative Membership of the Indian Viceroy's Council. The new Member, Mr. M. D. Chalmers, is the County Court Judge of Birmingham, and has had comparatively little opportunity of distinguishing himself except as a draughtsman to the Board of Trade. We have not the slightest objection to the selection of this great officer from among County Court Judges—or law students, for that matter—if only the Government are satisfied that they have secured a man of original mind. Probably Mr. Chalmers has this ; but we deprecate the recent tendency to regard the appoint- ment as one which any man of ability can fill. No one in India will seek to improve the laws or the pro. cedure of the Courts, or to reconcile the radically opposed ideas of Oriental and European jurists, except the Legis- lative Member of Council. The initiative rests in almost all cases with him, and if he regards himself as a mere -draughtsman, legislative progress halts. The Indian Empire was not acquired, and will not be solidified, by "safe" men, or by men competent to " get through " much business.
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