British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 166

CHAPTER VII.

Immigration Ordinance m force up to 1937 and is, with certain modifications to be discussed later, reproduced in the Immigration Ordinance, 1941. A description of the legislation as it stood in 1937 is given in the succeeding paragraphs.

5. Immigrants had to satisfy two sets of conditions. First they must qualify as immigrants in the several categories; and secondly they (and travelers also) must not be disqualified for admission to Palestine in virtue of certain statutory disabilities.

6. The several categories of immigration and their definitions are found in rule 4(1) of the Immigration Rules* which provides as follows:-

"No person shall be granted an immigration certificate or permit unless he belongs to one of the following categories:-

CATEGORY A.

Persons of independent means who shall be deemed to include:-

(i) any person who is in bona fide possession and freely disposes of a capital of not less than one thousand pounds:

Provided that, if the person is to engage in agriculture, the capital may include land, implements and stock, and that regard may be had to the value of land, implements and stock placed at his disposal for a term of years and any advance of money made to him for a term of years by an agency recognized by the Government for assisting agricultural settlement and, if the person is to engage in industry, the capital may include the site for an industrial establishment and machinery and regard may be had to the value of land placed at his disposal for a term of years and any advance of money made to him for a term of years by an agency recognized by the Government for assisting industrial enterprises;

(ii) any person who, being a member of a liberal profession, freely and without restriction of time disposes of a capital of not less than five hundred pounds:

Provided that: --

(a) in the computation of such capital the Director** may, in his discretion and in respect only of such part of such capital as he may in each case deem proper, have regard to the value of any implements and stock of such person's profession owned by such person, and

(b) the Director is satisfied that the need exists in Palestine for additional members of such profession.

(iii) any person who, being skilled in certain trades or crafts, freely and without restriction of time disposes of a capital of not less than two hundred and fifty pounds;
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* Drayton, Vol. II. page 757.

** The Director of the Department of Immigration.

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