No rationing scheme is expected to be introduced in Palestine for the present, it was stated in reliable quarters today as the Government and private agencies pressed emergency preparations to cope with possible spread of the European conflict to the Near East.
The deputy controller of supplies in the Jerusalem district has, however, taken preliminary measures enabling control of distribution of commodities, supplies of which may become limited at any time. Retailers of flour, butter, sugar, rice, butter substitutes and edible oils and fats have had to register of any of the listed commodities become necessary, the retailers will have to obtain their supplies from the whole-salers with whom they have registered.
Preparation of the Palestine civilian population to meet any contingencies is proceeding rapidly. A Haifa local committee has been established to deal with evaluation should that measure become necessary. The Tel Aviv municipality has set up a committee for the same purpose. It is understood that almost half of the Tel Aviv civilians would be evacuated to Jerusalem, while the Haifa population would be distributed in the Jezreel Valley.
The Haifa Town Planning Committee has approved a scheme for construction of Air Raid Precautions (A.R.P.) shelters. With the assistance of the district administration, a Haifa firm has imported more than 10,000 gas masks. Young Jewish men and women in Jerusalem have volunteered in large numbers for A.R.P. duties, A number of instruction courses have been arranged.
A report has just been issued by the Jewish Agency on its A.R.P. activities. A Haifa lawyer has been sent by the Agency to study the art of anti-gas measures. Volunteer A.R.P. societies have been established in Jerusalem and Haifa and are working in close cooperation with the Red Mogen David (Jewish Red Cross) and volunteer fire brigades.
The Tel Aviv municipality assigned £76,000 for the city’s defense.
The Government arranged special lessons in schools to instruct pupils in air raid precautions.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
