Production in Palestine of essential articles needed for the British war effort has increased fifty percent since the outbreak of hostilities, Sir Douglas Harris, chairman of the Palestine War Supply Board, declared at a press conference here today.
At the conference, which was called to discuss the appointment of Eric Mills, chief of the Palestine Government’s immigration department, as controller of manpower in the country, Sir Douglas announced that the Middle East supply center has agreed to additional quotas of raw materials for use by Palestine war industries. Nearly 30,000 persons are employed in 1,999 factories engaged in war production, he disclosed. Many of these factories have been established by refugees, he added.
“Palestine is now undertaking army orders to an extent and covering a range of stores, which was deemed incredible two years ago,” the War Supply Board head stated. “In addition it is supplying the needs of the civil population and producing numerous commodities which hitherto were imported.” He revealed further that measures have been taken to increase the cement output from nine to twenty thousand tons monthly and that a rubber regeneration plant with an annual capacity of 300 tons will shortly be established.
Sir Douglas concluded his statement with the announcement that the Palestine Government is already taking steps to counteract a post-war economic slump, when army orders cease, and is attempting to find new markets.
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.
