A number of Unionists, among whom are Mr. Chamberlain, Sir
Richard Webster, and the Duke of Norfolk, have formed a London Mapicipal Society with a programme which aims at completing and extending "the policy successfully promoted by the Unionist Ministry of 1886-92 for the reform of London Government and the advancement of the social well-being of the people." Its items include "the creation -of District Councils or Corporations." A good deal -of this is excellent, and in general nothing can be better than vigilance and keenness in municipal affairs. We deeply regret, however, that the words "or Corporations" were not left out of the programme, as we fear the Society may come to be regarded as—what we do not believe it is at all intended to be—a mere organisation for stopping the unifica- tion of London. With the demand for a reasonable amount of decentralisation we have every sympathy—London cannot be administered as one unit like Edinburgh—but you will never get a healthy civic patriotism unless and until you get the Londoner to feel that he is a citizen, and that of no mean city. No one's heart will ever beat quicker at the thought that he has served Brixton well and truly.
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