REMARKABLE PROGRESS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 7 September 1925, Page 8

REMARKABLE PROGRESS.

PALESTINE UNDER BRITISH RULE.

ARAB AND JEW APPRECIATE

NEW CONDITIONS

la the many alterations which were made to tlie- map of the world at the conclusion of the Great War not only were frontiers altered, but whole peoples passed under different rule. No country, probably, was so much affected for the better as Palestine, over which Great Britain was given mandatory rule.

Some interesting particulars of the improvements which have been effected in Palestine since the British assigned control of the country six years ago were given to a Dominion reporter by Mrs. Tute, wife of Judge R. C. Tute, of Jerusalem. Mrs. Tute, who arrived by the s.s. Mnheno from Sydney, stated that Judge Tute had formerly been attached to the Judiciary in India, and had been transferred to Palestine when Great Britain was entrusted with, a mandate to govern that country. The transformations which had been effected in the country during the six vars she had been in Jerusalem, declared Mrs. Tute, really had been wonderful. The British residents had experienced rather nerve-racking times during the early stages of the occupation, but the; justice of British rule had gradually won the respect of Arab and Jew alike, and the old bitter animosity between these races had died away, until to-day they were on. the best of terms with each other. There were somewhat exciting experiences during the visit of Lord Balfour to-Jerusalem, but the bulk of the. Arab population liadi behaved rather well on that occasion aiidi had contented themselves by shutting themselves in their shops and maintaining a passive boycott rather than violent demonstrations.

• The. British, said Mrs. Tute, had transformed Palestine. Attention first had been directed to ridding the country of the malaria scourge, which had made -the region almost uninhabitable since; the days of the Crusaders. This had been successfully accomplished by modern sanitary systems and improved water supplies. Channels had been formed; to carry off the stagnant water which formerly served as breeding pools for malaria. The country today was as healthy as New Zealand. An important result of British rule was the splendid education system which had been introduced. Palestine now had l schools all over the country just as had New Zealand. Another reform which had done more than anything to win the goodwill of the Arabs was the establishment of modern hospitals for the care' of the sick. In winning the respect and confidence of Arab and Jew the wives and daughters of the British administrators had played their part, It was safe to say that both Arab and Jew to-day /realised that they were better off under British rule than ever they had been before, nd neither would welcome a return of Turkish domination.

.Still another important improvement effected since Britain took over control of the country was the net-work of good roads which had; been formed. The roads in Palestine to-day compared favourably witli those in any progressive country. Mrs. Tute stated that the new Gov-ernor-General (Lord Plumer), who had proved himself such a capable general during the Great War, arrived to assume command before she left Palestine. Judge Tute had served under General Plumer during the war and general satisfaction was felt, that such a distinguished, soldier had been appointed: to control Palestine. Mrs. Tute is no stranger to New Zealand, as while in India Judge Tute and she- spent more than one furlough in the Dominion. After touring the South Island she intends seeing the beauty spots of the North, including Rotorua, which she has previously visited.