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Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1925, Page 2

Tin'. Muti< 1:<1 1 »ry Powers !i;iu‘ already learned Umt tin.' possession of a mandate, mi l’:ir 1 ruin being :< n unalloyed blessing, imposes heavy and troublesome responsibilities. Britain, in partirnlar has had a hard row to line. In Palestine and Iran - s he has had to repair, to the best of her ability, tlie abuses <n centuries of misrule and stagnation. while in the lornier eottutr,'. her task has been complicated by the fact that the various elements in the population are hostile to each other. Britain's dillictilties are described by \V. Basil Worsfold in “Palestine of the Mandate.'' tin interesting and iulorntative book. The author describes at some length the relations of Arabs and .lews, each of whom alleges that the other is favoured by the (lovernmcnt although in Mr Worsfold’s opinion the authorities are scrupulously fair, and hold the balance even. He thinks, indeed, that they me rather too long suffering with the Arabs, who are truculent people, and arc apt to lorgei that hut tor Britain anil France they would still ho oppressed hy I urkey. The Arabs, also, are a hack"sit'd race: their methods of agriculture are extremely ] rimitive. and they are slow to learn. In this respect they compare badly with tile dews, who make lapital -et tiers. The readiness wit! which they take to the land contradiets the prevalent notion that the natural henL of the Jews is in the direction of trade, and that they have no gilt for agriculture. Mr AVorsfold also gives an account of various undertakings which are being carried out or projected. Midi as the development of hydro-elect lie power from the Jordan, ihe construction of irrigation works, am] the exploitation of the magnesium and potassium chlorides, in which the Dead Son is extremely rich, and he deals exhaustively with ilie political, linam-ial and economical position Pales! iua.