Ext 8835/47 'Middle East: monthly economic reports' [‎5r] (9/30)

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machinery where required, and the Agri
cultural officers lav out the work and super
vise its execution in the field. Comprehen
sive schemes have been completed on the
lands of many Jewish settlements, and such
measures as hill-terracing, land reclamation
and contour ploughing are steadily gaining
m^entum in the Arab villages. Pales
tinian farmers are. anxious to extend the
mechanisation of their operations and there
is an immediate demand for 500 crawler
tractors and 1,500 cultivation implements
of various kinds.
9. The Citrus Board has effected the
following further sales (in cases):—
Grape-
Shamonti fruit Valencias Total
Czechoslovakia 265,000 20,000 15,000 300,000
Sweden ... 129,000 ... ... 129,000
Holland ... 200,000 ... ... 200,000
10. The commercial community displayed
some anxiety towards the end of September
and the beginning of October as the result
of doubt concerning the course which future
import policy might take. This was accen
tuated by the decision to recall all out
standing import licences for re-examina
tion. The fear of severe cuts was, however,
allayed somewhat with the progressive
return of the confirmed import licences.
Many merchants and importers continue
to place firm orders and to press for early
delivery of goods for which they hold
import licences. As a result an increased
level of imports may be anticipated during
the next few months. On the other hand,
prices, which during the period of acute
anxiety showed an upward trend (such as
prices of building materials which rose by
10-20 per cent., and of textiles and house
hold goods which rose by 5—10 pei cent.),
stabilised towards the end of the month.
11. Messrs. Lodzia textile, Compam
(Limited), were the first in Palestine to
place on the market some 50 gross of locally-
produced nylon stockings made from im
ported nylon yarn. The quality has yet to
be proved, but the price at which they ai e
being marketed is some 25 per cent, below
that of the imported product.
12. The building contractors have
created a special purchasing organisation
which aims at centralised purchases and at
rendering contractors independent of im
porters and merchants. Messrs. Magen,
Chatwood (Limited), are completing the
erection of their new works near Petah
Tiqva, in which they expect to start produc
tion at the beginning of 1948. It will con
stitute the largest and most modern metal
works in the country, producing safes, car
and bus bodies and metal furniture, with
equipment of United Kingdom and Lnited
States origin. The capital is £P. 150,000,
of which £P. 120,000 is paid up.
13. The figures of diamond exports to the
United States show a gratifying increase
(made possible by improved marketing con
ditions there) although they still fall short
of the 1946 figures. However, it would
seem that unless import of roughs become
subject to restrictions, continued develop
ment may be expected. The Palestine
industry has, nevertheless, to face the com
petition of Belgian exporters who appear
to have more favourable exchange possibili
ties, and also increased insurance rates,
which naturally have an adverse effect on
the competitive capacity of Palestine pro
cessed diamonds. During October 1947,
6,201 carats valued at £P.189,548 were ex
ported, of which the Lnited States took
5,932 carats valued at £P.175,810, and ^the
remaining 269 carats valued at £P.13,/SS
were exported to the sterling area. Sep
tember exports were much less at 2,54b
carats valued at £P.75,997.
14. The following motor vehicles were
imported during September 1947
From United States —
Taxis and passenger cars (high powered) 86
From United Kingdom —
Taxis and passenger cars (small and
medium powered) ... ••• ••• 14(3
From Continent —
Taxis and passenger cars (small and
medium powered) ... ••• ••• 52
15. The external trade for July 1947
was :—
Imports: £P.7,590,090 (June 1947, £P.6,931,463)
Exports: £P.1,941,231 (June 1947, £P.2,029,795)
16. The return of the General Jewish
Labour Exchange for September 1947,
showed a total of 8,364 applicants
registered as unemployed or under
employed compared with 9,606 in August
and 6,927 in September 1946. According
to the records of the exchange, September
had, as in past years, a lower registration
of applicants than August.
. The Council for the Resettlement of
Jewish Ex-Servicemen wound up its opera
tions in October on completion of its func
tions. During the twenty-one months of its
existence the council assisted in the imple
mentation of schemes for the reabsorption
of some 15,000 Jewish ex-servicemen and
women into civilian life.