very much by methods of their own choice. This organization does not of course lend itself to direction by means of circulars and instructions constantly codified into standing orders and numerous files submitted for decisions; but it nevertheless requires strong and wise direction by men of reliable political judgement and experience in getting the best work out of promising and intelligent subordinates. The comparison and co- ordination of different ventures in different districts is a constant and continuing task, especially since many of our methods and approaches must remain experimental for some time to come, and the interchange of information and experience between Districts calls for a strong and informed and centralized examination of all the work done as it proceeds. Something new reported from two districts will perhaps be a coincidence, but if the same note is struck in four or five districts then the organization must be such that someone with judgement and experience takes a long and careful look at it without delay, perhaps with senior officers in other departments or in the Secretariat. The present superstructure seems to me to be adequate for our present needs in this respect but the quality of the officers holding these superscale posts is a matter of paramount importance and the fact that they are usually kept relatively away from the limelight does not affect this at all.
119. The similarities of the City District Officer scheme to the rural District Officer system upon which it is to some extent based speak for themselves, and a word should perhaps be said about the differences. We have come upon nothing in the last twelve months to suggest that executive powers should be conferred upon this organization, for in the sophisticated urban context with which these officers are concerned there are no significant administrative areas which seem to call for anything other than the basically specialized organizations which operate already. We have learnt much about the individual districts but nothing to suggest that their differences are such as to call for significant decentralization of executive authority or that there is any demand for such a change. This is not of course to say that local opinions and variations and grie- vances do not need to be taken into account, and it is here that the C.D.O.s can act to the advantage both of the people and of the Government; they can take up in an articulate and informed and sensible way any reasonable cause for complaint or dissatisfaction, whether individual or general, and generally act to promote sympathy and understanding in all the complex human relationships between governing and being governed. There is nothing paternalistic (or avuncular, pace the press!) about this project and I believe it may well, as time goes on, commend
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