§ 40. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any steps have yet been taken in Palestine to modify the tithe and wergo systems of taxation?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREAn ordinance providing for the commutation of tithes in areas selected by the High Commissioner has been approved. I understand that it is to be applied as an experiment to some 30 villages. Legislation dealing with the taxation of urban property is still under consideration.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODDoes that mean that tithe is still in force, as it has for the last eight years, over the vast bulk of Palestine, and that the Report of the majority on the Tithe Commutation Committee has been disregarded?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREBy no means disregarded, but the alteration of the incidence of taxation on land and agriculture in a country like Palestine is not a very easy matter to put through at once, and we are proceeding experimentally in certain cases with a view to ascertaining what is the best form of new taxation to take the place of the old, which we admit is unsatisfactory.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODDo these 30 villages which will have the benefit of the change in taxation include Jewish villages, or are they solely Arab villages which will get this advantage?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI should like notice of that question.