British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 118

CHAPTER IV.

31. The Department of Land Settlement comprises a group of activities wider than its title would suggest. In the first place, the Director administers the Land (Settlement of Title) Ordinance, 1928*. Operations under this legislation are designed to obtain an accurate record of rights which, under the complicated and unsatisfactory land system inherited from the Ottoman regime, did not exist. Land settlement is carried out by survey and settlement parties in the field under the general direction and superintendence of the Directors of Land Settlement and Surveys. Secondly, the Director of Land Settlement is responsible for the administration of state domain (settled, 616,000 dunums; claimed 927 ,000 dnnums); for this purpose District Officers act as his agents in the various districts. He presents and prosecutes Government claims at land settlement. Thirdly, as Agent, he has the management of the important Haifa harbour reclaimed area estate. Fourthly, the Director of Land Settlement has important duties in relation to the administration of direct taxation of immovable property, and valuation. The Water Commissioner, who is Government's chief adviser on irrigation matters, and his staff form part of the Department. He carries out research into water resources and advises on the potentiality of development of these resources; he provides general supervision over hydrological schemes undertaken by Government; he administers the Drainage (Surface Water) Ordinance, 1942**.

32. The Migration Department is responsible, subject to the following qualification, for the administration of the provisions of the Immigration Ordinance, 1941*** relating to immigration into Palestine. It is the High Commissioner, in his unfettered discretion, who prescribes the maximum number of immigration certificates to be granted in a given period and the categories of immigrants and the numbers in any category. The Commissioner for Migration then ensures compliance with the requisite formalities regarding entry and residence. In his capacity as Director of the Department of Immigration he administers the Regulations made under the Palestine Citizenship Orders, 1925-42; that is to say, by delegation from the High Commissioner, be provides the administrative machinery for the naturalization of applicants for Palestine citizenship. The Commissioner for Migration is the executive authority in respect of passports and travel formalities; he performs certain consular functions as agent for the United Kingdom, the Dominions and Colonial Dependencies.
______________
* Drayton, Vol. II, page 853.
** Vol. I of 1942 legislation, page 58.
*** Vol. I of 1941 legislation, page 6.
Drayton, Vol. III page 2649.

Page 118