§ 10. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Palestinian tax known as the werko is still in operation both in rural and in urban areas; and, if not, where it has been abolished?
§ Mr. AMERYSo far as I am aware, werko is still levied in rural districts. Under Orders issued by the Officer Administering the Government of Palestine in July last, an urban property tax will be levied in the urban areas of Jerusalem and Jaffa as from the 1st of April next in the place of certain Ottoman taxes including werko.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it was proposed to abolish the rural werko and combine it with the new system of collecting tithes; and has that been done?