Palestine is continuing as one of the world’s rare examples of a prosperous country, it was revealed yesterday afternoon by Israel B. Brodie, president of the American Economic Committee for Palestine, on his return aboard the liner He de France.
While most lands have unemployment problems these days, Palestine has more work than workers, Mr. Brodie pointed out in a prepared statement telling his observations during a month’s survey. He met leaders in every branch of the country’s economic life.
WARNS ON LABOR SHORTAGE
The labor shortage menaces further development, he said, adding that, if an economic recession sets in it will be caused chiefly if not wholly by the inadequate supply of workers. But for the present, “the prospects for continued industrial expansion in Palestine are very bright indeed.”
Mr. Brodie told of a considerable movement of factories into the rural sections of the Holy Land. Tel Aviv and Haifa continue as the industrial centers, however, he said.
The economic absorptive capacity of the country will be hugely increased if efforts to discover and develop underground water reserves, the existence of which was not even suspected a few years ago, prove successful. Preliminary exertions along this line have met with success, he said.
‘FORWARD ON ALL FRONTS’
“Palestine is going forward on all fronts,” Mr. Brodie asserted. “The expected deflation has not come off, and in official and authoritative circles it is regarded as having been indefinitely postponed.”
About 70,000 acres of citrus lands are under cultivation, he declared, and when this acreage is brought to the full fruit-bearing stage the country will be producing more than 20,000,000 cases of oranges annually. Steps are being taken by leaders in the industry to guard against overproduction.
Construction work is going on ### an accelerated pace and will not slacken for some time, even if immigration should slow down, an eventuality which Mr. Brodie said is not expected.
From labor to industrialist, he declared, the Jews of Palestine are animated by “the dogged spirit of the pioneer who knows no faltering and no turning back.” They recognize that High Commissioner Wauchope “has approached his heavy task with high qualities of statesmanship and understanding.”
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