markable vitality. They know of no World crisis, no unemployment and no consumers’ strike. They are developing steadily, and if no very striking extension can be shown this year, this is, perhaps, so much to the good, inasmuch as it indicates a healthy growth.
Among the large industries, concentrated mainly in Haifa, the continuous conspicuous success of the Nesher cement factory is worth noting.
The import trade has taken its regular course. Import statistics have lately shown an appreciable excess over the corresponding figures of last year.
In the month of May the Jordan Electricity Works were at last completed and they now supply electric current to the whole country, with the exception of Jerusalem, which is served by an independent company. One turbine of 8,000 Horse Power is sufficient for the present to provide electricity for the whole of Palestine, but consumption is growing from day to day and the Jordan Power House has been fitted with two turbines, and offers room for a further two.
The Dead Sea Company, Palestine Potash Limited, still modestly describes what it is doing as experimental work, but it is no secret that its output is rapidly growing far in advance of its program. The Company finds no difficulty in disposing of its product, which is gaining an excellent name in the world markets.
The Haifa Harbor works are nearing completion. It is hoped that the harbor will be inaugurated in April 1933. The Iraq Petroleum Company has opened offices in Haifa and has started work on the Pipe line connecting its oil fields with the Mediterranean.
An air port has been established at Tiberias, and there are weekly connections now with London, India and South Africa. There is also a weekly local connection by air between Ramleh, near Jaffa, and Cairo.
Palestine Currency is, of course, linked with Sterling, and last September’s crop in the Sterling exchange caused some nervousness which was, however, of very short duration. The cost of living has not been appreciably affected by the changed status of the Sterling Currency.
The Zionist colonization effort has naturally been very much hampered by the considerable drop in the income of the colonizing institutions, the P.I.C.A. or Rothschild administration makes no exception, caused by the world depression. Not only could no new settlements be started but the consolidation of many existing settlements has also been very much held up.
As against this, private colonization, mainly if not exclusively in the field of orange planting, has continued to make remarkable progress.
During the second part of the year, fairly considerable amounts have been brought or remitted to Palestine by Jewish immigrants or would-be immigrants. For the months of February, when the movement took a pronounced form, till June, the aggregate amount should not be put at less than one million pounds, which is much for so small a country as Palestine. A good part of this money is still lying idle in the banks, but is gradually finding its way into the country’s economy.
The Levant Fair of 1932 was a great success. The number of foreign exhibitors was 821, as against 121 in 1929, and the visitors numbered 285,000 as against 120,000.
The French Report has not been published yet. It will appear together with the Government’s recommendations.
The new High Commissioner has taken up his duties with a considerable display of energy and what he has, until the present moment said and done, leads one to hope that next year’s review may be emphatic in praise of his efforts and achievements.
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.
