Excerpt from The Review of Reviews for Australasia: August 20, 1905

Mr. Bent is continually springing surprises on the public, but one of the greatest that he has sprung is his announcement that the question of separate representation of Civil Servants in Vic toria is being considered with a vie1v to the repeal of the measure. Possibly no local State Act has caused so much Inter - State comment and excite ment as did the Separate Representation Bill when it was brought in two years ago. In consequence of the strike of engine-drivers, the whole of the civil service was cut off from ordinary, and given special representation, to combat, so it was urged, the strong political influence exercised by civil servants. As a consequence of this they elected three members to directly represent their interests. Public feeling will undoubtedly lean in favour of Mr. Bent. There is no doubt that the measure was, at the time, a desirable one. It helped to tide over a. Great crisis, and it certainly did draw attention to the very grave danger of a huge civil service so largely dominating politics. It was, unfortunately, to an extent, a punishment in which thousands of good citizens, who had never abused their power, had perforce to share. But now that the lesson has been learned by the ardent politicians in the service, the restriction should be removed, not simply because punishment should not be continued endlessly, but also for the sake of those in the service who had no part or lot in political agitation. It is a wise step for Mr. 'bent to take, for after all said and done, every elector, whether he works for the Government or a private indivi dual, should stand on precisely the same ground.

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