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Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 270, 7 August 1908, Page 8

Mr. E. N. Baker, who is to succeed Sir Andrew Fraser as Lieutenant-Govornor of Bengal oh the latter's retirement in November, is _ among; tho ablest members of tho Indian Civil Service now in office. His work as district officer was done in Bengal, whore he is held in-high esteem. His later reputation has been made, in the Finance Department, to the head of which he.was called somo three years ago, Lord Curzon in this case, for reasons universally approved, setting aside the custom according to which the Viceroy's Finance Minister is appointed from outside the ranks of the Civil Service. Mr. Baker is a very capable administrator, and is known in India as a cautious supporter' of the reform programme.

Commenting on tho, fact that upwards of 1200 British officers and men of the South African Constabulary, havo been "retrenched" and their positions in many cases filled by Boers, tho "Johannesburg Star" says:. "Before a month lias olapsed.tho commissioned officers of the S.A.C. will bo represented by about half a> dozen survivors, whoso only legacy from' tho defunct force will bo a greatly reduced salary. The services of a few sub-inspectors will also ho retained, hut it is understood that most of tho officers with that rank! havo beon selected from members of tho old Republican police." After giving a list of "retrenched" British officers, many of whom write D.S.O. after their names, tho "Star" continues: "Major Macgregor, Captain Inspectors Comyn, liarbord, and Koighley arc all to follow Colonel O'Brien into retirement. Their places aro to bo fdlcd by Messrs. Van Dam, Van dcr Merwo, Krugcr, Brodcll, and otiier political adherents of tho Government." Tho Australians and the citizens of tho United States havo a fellow-feeling in regard to tho quiistiou of Japaneso immigration, and it would bo most regrettablo if tho visit of •tho American ships wore used by agitators to create a.sentiment unsympathetic in tone to Jiia...countxi.r= : - fmi Nr.vj .Gazette.'''