Lord Willingdon on Local Self Government

IN his reply to the farewell address presented to him by the Poona Municipality, Lord Willingdon said he had never disguised his sympathy with Indians in their political aspirations and pointed out how local boards and municipalities served as the training ground for larger responsibilities and the development of a national spirit. He hoped he might be spared to assist them in all legitimate efforts towards higher political aims. We do not know how this reply was received by the public, for it was in the Bombay Presidency more than in any other province that several municipalities have been deprived of the powers of local responsibility and the effect of official influence has been far from helpful.

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