British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 173

CHAPTER VII.

In administration there are two broad classes of dependants; first, those who accompany immigrants on arrival and these are practically invariably wives and minor children; secondly, those who arrive on certificates granted on approved applications submitted by permanent residents in Palestine.

It will be seen that the definition prescribed a wide area of dependency; secondly, that its meaning was obscure on various points. For practical application, it was held that the phrase “’dependant' means a person who is, or will on arrival in Palestine be wholly and directly dependent for maintenance and support upon an immigrant or a permanent resident" must generally mean that the prospective immigrant would be, in fact, dependent on the immigrant or permanent resident during the residence of the dependent immigrant in Palestine. This is confirmed by the undertaking in terms given by the applicant in the form of application (Appendix VI to the rules under the Ordinance) that he undertakes to maintain the immigrant for so long as he remains in Palestine.

On the other hand it is clear that minor children would at some later date enter. the labour market and make their own living.

There was also the difficulty that some people claimed that the phrase "will on arrival in Palestine be ..... dependent" meant only that the immigrant would not become a charge to the public revenues on arrival and that nothing prevented such persons from seeking and accepting employment.

22. Towards the end of the year i934 the immigration authority was threatened with actions (mandamus) in the High Court in respect of this matter : and, coincident with this, there was an increase in the volume of applications for dependants of permanent residents of Palestine.

The Government was advised that, while the view taken by the immigration authority in regard to dependent immigration was in accordance with the intention of the legislation, the actual terms of the legislation were open to a different interpretation. As a result, the authority drafted a definition of 'dependant' which was designed to express more closely the policy in regard to this form of immigration, having regard to the principle that immigration was to be conducted in accordance with the capacity of the country to absorb new arrivals. It will be realised that 'dependent' immigration, unpredictable in dimension, might easily disturb estimates of the economic capacity of the country to absorb labourers in so far as dependants entered the labour market. While the draft proposed definition was under discussion it was

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