Page:Indian Journal of Economics Volume 2.djvu/516

 498 says Aristotle, and given proper opportunities such as we have enumerated above the dictum might perhaps find its best illustration in the humble Indian ryot. The recent Resolution of the Bombay Governmint on the administration of the Local Boards in the Western Presidency shows clearly that these Boards ant badly the introduction of a more active element, Wnile it appeared that "in no case was any interest evinced in the elections," in some cases there was of candidates even absence the elections. for lack of to offer As many eighty a quorum the Boards, besides being few in number, were attended.. Such being the present condition themselves for as meetings and meetings of the badly of the al Boards a revivifyin8 element like that by co-operation is surely to be welcomed. members of the panchayets who will enter furnished The these Boards will come equipped with real first-hand local knowledge and drilled into habits of regular attendance at and deliberations in meetings. Critics of the .Reforms Report have pointed out that the finc side of the scheme advanced in it seems the weakest. Something can be done giving more share in the the chief productive classes and the commercial groups, and strengthening their interest in the of. the country. It is true that to remedy this defect by actual work of reform to of India--the agricultural by arousing and general progress these classes are not so "politically-minded" as some others, but to say this is not a has been observed reproach bat an encomium. As the vocal and politically-minded classes have grown somewhat hypersensifive 'in politi- cal matters; self-interest nor are they to warp their without considerations of political judgment& But the humble ryot--the horny-handed on of the soil--