A GRAVE MISTAKE.

Evening Post, Volume LXI, Issue 87, 15 April 1901, Page 4

A GRAVE MISTAKE.

; The news that the Hon. J. L. Fegan hod been appointed a Federal Undersecretary evoked strong but justifiable expressions of indignation throughout Australia, The high posts in the Federal Civil Service should be given only to men | who have had specialised training for the work. They are the natural rewards of the best officers in the various State services. There should be no political taint about the appointments and least of all should mere party politicians receive them. The criticism passed on the Fegan incident is evidence that Australian public opinion is sound upon this point. The people of $ie "federating colonies do not wish their national existence to begin with a system of jobbery similar to that which is" unfortunately recognised in the great American Republic. They are anxious that merit, and not political "colour," shall constitute the chief claim to public appointments. The nomination of Mr. Fegan to the Under-Secretaryship for Home Affairs was a direct outrage to these sentiments. He may be a very estimable person in himself, but he has no special qualifications for a high post in the Civil Service. He is known principally as a devoted, follower of Sir William Lyne, by whom he was made State Minister of Mines and 1 Agriculture. With an audacity of which few would have conceived him capable, Sir William attempted to thrust this protege of his upon the Commonwealth as one of its highest permanent officers. Had not public opinion been so sensitive Sir William would no doubt have succeeded in his pretty little scheme, but now there seems to be a fair prospect of his suffering defeat. On Saturday we were told that the appointment of Mr. Fegan would stand over till the general question of appointments was dealt with. This seems to mean that Sir William's coHeagues are disinclined to confirm his action, and such, we hope, is the interpretation that should ibe placed upon the message. Sir William Lyne, who is not a dtrong man, and whose anti-Federal antecedents make him i the weakest member of the Commonwealth Ministry, has been acting in a manner calculated to discredit the net. His retention of the, New South Wales Premiership long after he had, accepted Federal office was in itself reprehensible, bul it appears in an even worse light now that there is reason to believe his action was prompted by a desire to control certain certain State appointments. The Fegan episode tends to confirm suspicions previously roused, and the Federal Ministers will have to take care that' they do not suffer for the reputation that one of ,their number is recklessly making for himself. We should not be surprised if the rest of the Cabinet would view with equanimity the resignation of the Minister for Home Affairs, especially as his greed of State office may possibly have helped Mr. G. H. Reid to victory at the recent Federal poll in New South Wales. It is, as we have already said, a hopeful sign that Australian opinion is so averse to anything savouring of "jobbery" in national politics, and we trust that that feeling will grow in intensity. Unless the Commonwealth keeps a clean record Australia may yet have cause to regret her new-found nationhood.