Mr. Grenfell also asked when it was proposed to hold the election for the municipal authorities in Jerusalem, and what measures it was proposed to take to ensure that the franchise should be on a widely democratic basis.
I am unable to make a definite reply, Sir Robert Hamilton answered, but when the matter was raised some time ago it was the intention that elections to municipal councils should be postponed until after the enactment of a new local government ordinance.
I understands that a draft ordinance is shortly to be laid before the municipal councils for their consideration. I have no doubt that in framing the new local government ordinance the Government of Palestine will have paid due consideration to the point raised in the latter part of this question.
Progress in drawing up the final draft of the Local Government Bill has been slower than was expected, the Palestine High Commissioner said, addressing a Conference of 20 Palestine Mayors and Presidents of Local Councils held at the Government offices in Jerusalem on March 30th., called in order to discuss question of local government. I now hope, he went on, that the draft will be ready in one or two months time. I shall then circulate the draft to Local Authorities for their consideration, and I am confident that the Government will gain great benefit from the comments of the Local Authorities.
One purpose of the new Ordinance, he explained, will be to establish the rating powers of Local Authorities on a more satisfactory footing and thereby increase their resources to an extent that in time will I hope make them financially independent of the Government. The Ordinance will provide that the rateable value of property in Municipal areas shall be defined in the same words as the definition of net annual value under the Urban Property Tax Ordinance so that the assessments already made under the Urban Property Tax Ordinance, can be used for assessment lists for rates.
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