§ 26. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the decision to extend the municipal boundaries of Tel-Aviv and that Arab villages formerly under the Ramleh rural administration have been brought, contrary to the wishes of the inhabitants, under the jurisdiction of Tel-Aviv; what is the total acreage of the transferred area; and whether the inhabitants of transferred districts will be subject to a higher rate of local taxation in consequence of the transfer?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI have no information regarding the matters referred to in the hon. Member's question, and I am asking the Officer Administering the Government of Palestine for a report.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsIs it not a fact that Tel-Aviv is the most up-to-date and best-managed part of Palestine from the point of view of health and administration, and if the whole country were on an equal footing, would it not be a far better country?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI understand that the municipality of Tel-Aviv is very well managed.
§ Mr. GallacherIs the fact that it is the most up-to-date part any excuse for an attempt to swallow up the independence of other people?
§ Colonel WedgwoodIs the light hon. Gentleman aware that there are also many Jewish houses on the border of Tel-Aviv which have been amalgamated with Jaffa, in spite of the fact that their water, gas and electric light supplies come from Tel-Aviv?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI am aware that there is a Jewish population in Jaffa.