The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1912. EGYPT’S AFFAIRS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 94, 16 December 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1912. EGYPT’S AFFAIRS.

Writing from Cairo recently, , one credited with a thorough grasp of the situation says: Lord Kitchener’s first year of office in Egypt proper, for ho was formerly Governor-General of the Soudan, though marked by numerous salutary administrative reforms, laid itself open to criticism in one important direction—namely, that no attempt was made to alter the condition of political pupilage which had existed aver since 1883, when Lord Dufverin created those embryo representative institutions known as the Legislative Council and the General Assembly. This reproach is likely soon to bo removed. In his speech on the opening of the General Assembly in March last the Khedive indicated the drift of coming changes, and now the “Ahali,” which is credited with being the organ of the Prime Minister, publishes some details of the scheme, which is alleged to embrace not only a fusion of the two bodies mentioned into one, but also the inauguration of a system of direct election in substitution for the present cumbrous method of voting by two degrees. At present the voters elect an elector who, in his turn, elects the people’s representative. In future the voters are to choose their member without any intermediary. A hope is generally expressed in the press that the proposed reforms will

not bo carried into effect until the fullest opportunity for public discussion shall have been allowed. A' fear that laws of this description might be put in force without being previously submitted to the scrutiny cf non-offi-cial circles is not altogether groundless. An air of mystery regarding impending legislation is often preserved, which occasions widespread dissatisfaction, betokening as it does a want of confidence in the public’s judgment, a contempt for its intelligence, and an indifference to its interests and aspirations.