- 54 -or the measures devised to address the neglect in joint administration of affairs, whether in the councils established by Lord Dufferin or the councils and declarations established after 1883. We must consider whether this mechanism can be improved.

As for the government of cities, I see that the various municipalities and local commissions are all currently functioning, and nothing else can be done well as long as the legislative authority of the government is restricted as previously explained. As for the government of districts, I see that improvement is possible, but it cannot be achieved without a change in the Organic Law. However, this change is acceptable.

Lord Dufferin intended for the provincial councils to be advisory bodies, with frequent communication between them and the directors. However, they have not been used much for this purpose. One of the greatest reasons for their underutilization is that Article 6 of the Organic Law stipulates that these councils cannot convene unless the directors invite them to do so, and the directors cannot invite them except by a high decree from Khedivial Cairo specifying the date and duration of the meeting. It was also stipulated that they should only meet once a year. Consequently, they have only met once in each province so far, and it is unlikely they will meet more than once as long as each meeting requires a high order from Cairo.

Furthermore, the Organic Law stipulated that the number of members in each provincial council should not exceed eight or be less than three. However, the conditions in the provinces have changed greatly since then, necessitating a review of the number, and it is likely that this number should be increased.

As for these councils being intended as advisory bodies, their effectiveness depends on the councils themselves and the qualities of the directors. However, there is no doubt in my mind that if the government in Cairo invited them to participate in local affairs, they would engage in this capacity and provide benefits of this kind.

There is another matter worthy of consideration, which is whether the time has come to dispense with these administrative intermediaries for the purpose of governance and transfer the authority granted to the aforementioned councils for judgment and fines to the governor, and to transfer their remaining functions to the provincial councils to consider all matters of the provinces. The existence of many committees in each province is not without cost.