Notes of the Day

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3661, 24 October 1912, Page 4

Notes of the Day

LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE HOLY LAND.

Among recent announcements of great interest is that which declares that the new Governor of Jerusalem, who is a sort of Vicerov for the who’e province of Palestine.. Is about to establish a form of local government in connection with the Holy Land. It will, it is stated, be based upon the principle of decentralisation. Every village which had not less than . 100 families who were Turkish subjects would he able to appoint a town council of their own, arid in this way the principal Jewish colonies would come under their own administration. Every colony would then elect its town council, and one of its members would he appointed Mayor. The colonists themse’ves would he empowered -to give title deeds for land, permission for erection of buildings, and would assess their own taxes. The doctor of the colony would be officially recognised, and the local administration would he invested with power to deal with criminal offences. The colonists would be entitled to appoint gendarmes, whose names would be registered in the Government records, and who would be provided by the Government with uniforms and arms, and invested with the authority enjoyed by the Government gendarmerie. In order that the colonists should live in perfect safety, and be protected against untoward events, they would be permitted to connect the colonies with the nearest town by telephone, so tjiat in case of necessity help must he obtained. The colonies would be able to build hospitals and import medicine free of duty, and various taxes now raised by the provincial government would be retained for the benefit of the colonies, it may be assumed that the Governor would not have spoken without authority from Constantinople, and his announcement made so soon after his assumption of the duties of his office, clearly indicates that the Turkish Government has resolved on a. new policy towards their Jewish subjects in the Holy Land. Trier have managed nutny of their own local affairs themselves in the past, but they have always been subjected to petty restrictions, to governmental harassing, and to attacks from the predatory Arabs, who are to be found nil over the country. They will now ho free to conduct the colonies completely on their own lines, to make adequate provision against attack, and to proceed with their economic development freely and with the warm support, instead of the churlish reluctance, of the Turkish authorities.