Uncertain Political Situation Has Not Disturbed Palestine’s Economic Progress and Development, Dispa

The Tel Aviv correspondent of the Berlin. “Juedische Rundschau,” in its issue of November 22nd, gives the following facts about recent economic developments in Palestine:

“Energetic work has been resumed in the orange groves. Just now, before the rainy season commences, work on a large scale is being done in the newly-acquired orange plantations to prepare for the winter sowing. The largest of the new orange associations, the company at the head of which is Lord Melchett, has this year begun the planting of the first thousand dunams of land. This company has a large stretch of territory, extending from the new colonies in the Plain of Sharon northwards. It differs from the other companies not only in its magnitude (its capital consist of 300,000 pounds), but also in the organization of its work. The purpose of the Melchett Corporation is not colonization, but the establishment of an orange industry on a gigantic scale. Each year one thousand dunams are to be planted. The planting will be carried out in the manner of a big industry, with the most modern machinery, the division of labor and other factory methods. Though there are only 70 workers now in Tel Mond, as the place is called, from 150 to 200 people are expected to find employment in winter when the planting of saplings begins. The whole system means the application of American-European methods of large-scale industry to agriculture, an attempt which is a complete innovation in Palestine.

“In the building industry one sees the beginning of renewed activity everywhere. During the past summer the housing shortage, especially in Jerusalem and Haifa, began to be keenly felt. In Tel Aviv too there are hardly any more vacant homes. Since the disturbances special housing problems have appeared. Everywhere Jews show a great desire to leave the mixed quarters and to make their homes in purely Jewish sections. This tendency gave rise to a great housing shortage in Jerusalem and Haifa, while in Jaffa the Jews are anxious to leave the town and settle in Tel Aviv. As a result, the question of supplying the funds for new building activities has become acute. Though the question is a difficult and complicated one, one can nevertheless expect an increase in building activities during the next year.

“In general the economic outlook today can be termed favorable. It is worth noticing that the uncertain political situation has up to now not been able to disturb considerably the economic life. Nevertheless a permanent state of political uncertainty will have to affect unfavorably the economic life. As things stand in the country today one cannot completely separate the economic and political sphere. One must therefore wait and see what form politics will take and how it will affect the economic structure of the country.”