§ Mr. David Adamsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction amongst all classes of natives in Palestine towards the religious courts there; that for more than five years no elections have been held for ecclesiastical judges; that no provision exists for the automatic extension of their term of office; and will he direct the High Commissioner to authorise new elections or replace the present vacancies with those who had received the largest number of votes next on the list or declare those matters within the exclusive jurisdiction 887W of these courts to be within the concurrent jurisdiction of the civil courts, as certain of these judges are of advanced years and, because of age and weakness, are unable to attend court?
§ Colonel StanleyI am consulting the High Commissioner for Palestine with regard to these representations, and I will communicate to my hon. Friend in due course the result of my inquiry.