PALESTINE TO-DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16539, 24 September 1921, Page 3

PALESTINE TO-DAY.

NEW ZIONIST MOVEMENT,

RECONSTRUCTING THE COUNTRY.

Palestine tinder tho of the new Government and of Zionism is developing; into a countrv rich in agriculture and one of great- promise for industry, commerce, and education- Its gradual reawakening, the recultivation of its fertile lands, the re-birth of its cities, and its progress as a centre for pilgrims and tourists from all parts of the world, were reviewed by Professor Patrick Geddes in an interview with a representative of the London 4 * Observer/* Professor Geddes lias been planning both for the Government in Palestine and for the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. But fundamental to all these plans, he first explained, i 3 the region needing renewal. u Palestine,** he recalled, ** waa at one time forested over its limestone rooks in a state of Nature. Then ancient agriculture tilled the plains and terraced, the mountain slopes with clives and vines. Unfortunately, as everywhere throughout the Mediterranean, the forests were steadily destroyed, and the state into which the land thus foil was exaggerated under the Turkish rule, which always lacks agricultural comprehension. “As the forests disappeared the water-level fell, and the torrential rains washed down the soil to useless depths upon the plain, which also became malarious. By and by cultivation began anew to work up to the terraces again;* but for this much labour and expenditure are required and also forest planting, so that in time the old wealth and fertility of the Mediterranean may be renewed. AGRICULTURAL COLONIES. tl For two generations past the Jews have been wisely beginning with agricultural colonies, and these are often most encouraging. The new Zionist movement Ls following up these beginnings more fully, and is both enlarging the old colonies and starting new ones. 44 How do they get the land?** Nearly always by purchase from the Arabs; but sometimes, under Turkish law, by reclamation of waste lands belonging to the State. They are also reclaiming swamps and planting sand dunes with eucalyptus, which grow b rapidly, and will be of great value in a few years, both for fuel and construction. “Even unpromising-looking hillsides ore thus being rapidly transformed, for the soil is fairly fertile when properly treated. Olives grow particularly well; vines and figs also; and on the plains near Jaffa you have the famous orange plantations, no doubt capable of considerable exjtens'on. Farther north immense melon fields yield export to Egypt. Tho whole agriculoutlook, indeed, is hopeful, and justifies all the capital which can be obtained. “ The immigrants come mainly from Russia and Central Europe, but with a sp rink ling from countries farther west. A notable feature is the large proportion of university men who are turning to agriculture There is every ground for believing that this new Jewish peasantry will be skilled and progressive- , “What about the Bolsheviks and revolutionaries ?” “In every gathering nowadays you may find all opinions, and, no doubt, particularly among the Jews. But what interests me is that the land is being reclaimed and roads are getting made by groups of various kinds, sometimes working on the most established capitalistic principles, and at others on co-operative lines of various constitutions. Sometimes leaders are appointed for them ; sometimes they elect tlieii own.. All alike, so far as I can see. turn out work. There is no revolutionary danger where people are will ing thus to submit their theories to the lest of practice.

REPLANNING THE TOWN. As for the towns, each has its own problems. Supreme, of course, is Jerusalem, the sacred city of Judaism Christianity, and Islam, each with its ;>ilgrims, and increasingly destined, J believe, to be a city of education. Then r ®c" e are Ibo seaport towns, of which »affa has hitherto been the more important, though now Haifa looks forward to great development, for which t have been planning. “ Haifa arises as successor to tho old port of Acre on the other side of the uay, and under the point of Carmel a magnificent situation, recalling and almost rivalling Naples, and with fine cooling sea breezes. The Carmel hill—iop is, therefore, specially planned out ior its residential attractiveness. The port promises to be worth development <nd there 13 ample space for future industries upon the plain. Jaffa, too, is glowing, and these two ports will suffice for a long time to come. Gaza as it recovers from the war damage will again be an important southern city. Inland Nablus and Hebron, though very .Moslem, and therefore hitherto somewhat conservative, will enlarge as agriculture develops. “ Tiberias, a much more Jewish and Christian town, has special promise from its old baths and as an attractive winter sanatorium, for the European tourist. The tourist future of Palestine is. indeed, assured by the ease with which the railwav now connects with Egypt. JERUSALEM. “ Jerusalem is fortunate in having Mr C. R. Ashbee, of Clielsea, as its guardian and adviser. He lias been doing most admirable work, not only in conserving and repairing at many points throughout he historic city, but also in establishing industries, such as weaving and tile-making. He acts also —and, indeed, especially—for 4 ProJerusalem,* which is, I think, the best association I have ever belonged to or even known in any city ; for it unites the representatives of all the faiths, denominations, and interests into harmonious co-operation for tho benefit of the State. This concord cannot but spread into all sections of the public, divided though they seem. “ Jerusalem is very polyglot, and knowledge comes in from all countries. Archaeology is in great progress, and tho French, British, American and Jewish scholars are all separately active, and even have common meetings, too. There are excellent hospitals. “ The Jewish population will be a great factor in the progress of education ; for since Sir Moses Montefiore started his village outside the walls with little fellowships for Jews selected for their piety and their learning, his example has led to fifty-six more of such groups being established by many cities all the way from Bokhara to New York, and housing some 5000 of these picked scholars and their fain-

ilies by 1900—Indeed, before Zionism came into the field. Here, in short, we have in being, though not in name, an old-fashioned University of the classical and religious type, which will by and by yield us modem scholars. THE UNIVERSITY. '* But my work has been t® design for tho Zionist University. And here,” Professor Geddes said, producing some beautiful drawings by his colleague, Mr Frank Hears, of Edinburgh, “ ar© the general plan and panorama-. Looking out from the walls of Jerusalem across the Kedron Valley, you see first the Mount of Olives, with its Catholic and Greek buildings, and then th© big German hospice, a veritable Kaiserburg, now, as the prize of war, Government House. 4< The next hill northward Is aB yet occupied only by the mansion villa of the late Sir John Gray Hill. This i 9 Mount Scopas, so called from its splendid outlook westwards over Jerusalem and eastwards over the ascending hilltops to the Dead Sea deep below. On this hill is the site for the university. The building is planned on a large scale to afford room for 3000 students. Though necessarily extensive, the design is modest, and needs little or no ornament beyond simple domes characteristic of old Jerusalem. The distinguishing feature is the large hall which every university requires, and around which the great dome groups many small ones/* “ What studies are proposed?" u Ultimately, no doubt, all. .Of course, Jewish studies require an important wing, but the mass of these buildings is needed for all the ordinary studies of every great university. The main School of Medicine will naturally be in the largo city below, and near the hospitals, while engineering and other technical studies are already provided for in great part at Hiafa. “But a university does not begin and end with teaching. Northward again/* the professor explained, referring to the panoramic view, “ we shall need a garden village for the staff, halls and residences for students, and no doubt also homes for families settling in the city for education. “A university lias also a productive and even a business side, like Ox torch with its Clarendon Press. Edinburgh, with its printing and pharmaceutical industries, and Jena, with its scientific apparatus making. Here, then is a quarter for all such enterprises—a further garden village which meets the existing city.”