LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
CIVIL-SERVICE APPOINTMENTS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF TUN "SPEOTATOR.1
seems that the Report of the Civil-Service Inquiry Com- mission requires a deal of explanation. We have already had (1), the Chairman's explanatory letter to Sir S. Northcote ; (2), Mr. Farrer's explanatory article in the Fortnightly Review; and (3), the Chairman's explanatory letter to yourself. I venture to think that, at least on one point, the last of these itself wants explana- tion. Answering your recent " leader " and Mr. Lowe's remarks, Mr. Mayfair says:— " Practically, if the scheme be worked as recommended by us, no man would be above six months out of employment. We desire to have an excess of supply above the demand, but only such as would be absorbed by the vacancies occurring in six months."
But the words of the Report (p. 12) are :— "The number of candidates selected should be such as might suffice to maintain a list somewhat in excess of the number of vacancies ex- pected during the following six months."
And then, anticipating your objection, the Commissioners say (p. 12)
Lastly, it may be said that a successful candidate may never receive an appointment at all But this, to say the least, is extremely unlikely ; and whatever loss the public might suffer from this cause would, in our opinion, be more than compensated by the advantage of securing that the heads of departments should choose their officers."
To me these passages appear to necessitate the interpretation which you, Sir, and Mr. Lowe, and many others, have put upon them. At all events, this interpretation is so natural that, with- out additional explanation, it must, I fear, be doubtful whether Mr. Playfair expresses the views of his colleagues on the point, or
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