(J. T. A. Mail Service)
A report on the activity of the Central Administration of the Ort Federation since January 1 was submitted to Dr. A. Singalowsky at the plenary meeting of the Central Administration of the Ort held here. Dr. Singalowsky welcomed Dr. Leo Bramson, the Chairman of the Central Administration, on his return after a year of successful work in South Africa.
In South Russia, Dr. Singalowsky said, a further 800 families had been included in the working program of the Ort. In the four and a half months of this year they had increased the number of milch cows and horses and continued the building of houses. The Ort was providing seeds and fodder for the colonies which had suffered from the failure of the harvest. In Poland the spring land-work was being continued in their 12 areas. Credits were provided for seed and inventory. The planting of trees was being continued in three colonies and 60 vegetable gardens had been provided with seeds and fertilisers. In Bessarabia the spring preparation work was being carried on successfully. In several places credits were provided for the purchase of land.
With regard to the technical training work, four new institutions had been established since January with 300 pupils, two in Poland, one in Kovno, and one in Czernowitz. In all, the Ort was maintaining 73 institutions with 5,000 pupils.
In the establishment of continuation courses for apprentices in Poland, difficulties were being raised by the Government in the matter of Yiddish being the language of instruction. They would, however, shortly open six such institutions.
Professor S. Frankfurt and Engineer Charnass reported to the meeting on the work of the Co-operative Tools Supply Company. In the course of 1925, it was stated, the Company had had a turnover of $40,000. In 1926 this had increased to $75,000; in 1927 to $150,000 and in the first four months of the present year it had amounted to $100,000. It was decided to transform the Co-operative Tools Supply Company into a joint stock company and to increase its stock.
Dr. Leo Bramson said the Ort basis for the whole of the activity of the Ort Federation was to strengthen the network of the Ort organizations and to increase their membership. In order to safeguard the Ort institutions and prevent further financial crises, he recommended the carrying on of a big campaign in America and the intensification of the campaigns in England, Poland and Bessarabia. There were prospects, he said, for an increased raising of funds in connection with his campaign in South Africa and the successful development of the campaigns of the Joint Committee of the Ort-Oze-Emigdirekt in Australia, Egypt, etc. Dr. Bramson spoke of the progress of the financial institutions associated with the Ort, such as the Jewish Reconstruction Fund and the Co-operative Tools Supply Company.
The budge estimate of the Ort Federation and the Jewish Reconstruction Fund adopted on the basis of Dr. Bramson’s report totals about $400,000. It is to be submitted for confirmation to the Central Council of the Ort Federation which will hold its meeting next month.
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