British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 355

CHAPTER IX.
(5). Loans by Government for the maintenance of citrus groves during the war (1940-1945).

108. The war of 1939-1945 hit the citrus industry in that shipping could not be found to export the fruit. In the last season before the war (1938-39) exports from the area of 293,000 dunums amounted to 15,264,776 cases. Absence of shipping reduced exports to:-

169 ,803 cases in 1940-41 l 534,238 cases in 1941-42

1,069,469 cases in 1942-43 2,424,887 cases in 1943-44 2,747 ,389 cases in 1944-45

including exports in bulk to neighbouring territories.

109. The citrus industry estimate their consequential losses at between £P.7-8 millions. The assistance which Government decided to grant the industry took the form of exemption from rural property tax on citrus groves and the grant of advances for the minimum amount of cultivation necessary to keep the groves alive during the war. These advances were not made in respect of the whole area but only in respect of groves in good condition, approximately 150-175,000 dunums. The remaining area either did not require advances or did not qualify for them under condition tests. The advances so made amounted to £P.3,658,760. Recoveries up to 31st October, 1945, were £P.328,765, so that the net amount outstanding and due to Government on that date was £L'.3,329,995. The annual figures are shown in the following table:-

Financial year

Net issues

Recoveries up to 31.10.45

in respect o[ the advances (or the year shown in the first column

1940-41 1941-42 1942-43 1943-44 1944-45

1945-46 (Estimate)

Less recoveries

Advances outstanding at 31.10.1945

£P. 448,295 5H3,280 609,965 753,715 718,505 600,000

9,658,760 328,765

£P. 93,162 90,104 71,431 62,170 11,898

328,765

3,329,995

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