v
class of persons desirous of filling them. It can scarely then be considered a disadvantage that this inevitable number of applicants should consist of those who have ability and industry to give in exchange to the Government, instead of those who have only votes to sell to members of Parliament.
There is little of novelty in the principal features of the plan here advocated. The idea of bestowing Government appointments according to the results of competitive examinations was developed in 1853, in the Report of Sir Charles Trevelyan and Sir Stafford Northcote, on " The Reorganization of the Civil Service;" and the tendency, since that period, both of public opinion and of Governmental action, has been to affirm the substantial soundness of the views then advocated, and to recognize both the duties of the Civil Service as requiring the exertions of a higher class of officers and the utility of the examination test as a means of discovering practical ability. The chief fruits of these convictions have been, first, the Order in Council of 21st of May, 1855, prescribing a test of fitness, to which all entrants into the service are now subjected; and secondly, the Resolution of the 14th July, 1857—passed, with the assent of Government, by the House of Commons—that the plan of competition, which has been hitherto occasionally tried, should henceforth be more generally adopted.[1]
- ↑ Resolution of July 14, 1857.—"That in the opinion of this House, the experience acquired since the issuing of the Order in Council of the 21st day of May, 1855, is in favour of the adoption of the principle of competition, as a condition of entrance to the civil service; and that the application of that principle ought to be extended in conformity with the Resolution of the House agreed to on the 24th day of April, 1856." [See below.]
Resolution of 24th April, 1856.—"An address to thank Her Majesty for having caused to be laid before this House the report of the Civil Service Commissioners; to state humbly to Her Majesty that this House has observed with great satisfaction the zeal and prudence with which the Commissioners have proceeded in applying a remedy to evils of a serious character, the previous existence of which has now been placed beyond dispute, and also the degree of progress which has been made, with the sanction of the heads of various departments of the State towards the establishment of a system of competition among candidates for admission to the Civil Service; to assure Her Majesty of the steady support of this House in the prosecution of the salutary measures which she has been graciously pleased to adopt; and humbly to make known to Her Majesty, that if she shall think fit further to extend them, and to make trial in the Civil Service of the method of open competition as a condition of entrance, this House will cheerfully provide for any charges which the adoption of that system may entail."
