British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 768

CHAPTER XVII.

directly by the Services, a further 20,000 engaged in war industries, and some 20,000 employed by Government war departments and in transport and catering activities arising out of the emergency. It thus appeared that about 100,000 persons, in the post-war period, would either be seeking to enter employment or to change their jobs. However, in the event, the continued demand for civil labour and the sustained requirements of the Services and Government Departments have narrowed the problem, at least up to the present (December, 1945), to that of the resettlement of ex-servicemen. The 20 ,000 men and women still in the services will probably all be demobilized by the end of 1946.

EMPLOYMENT Committee

75. An Employment Committee, under the chairmanship of the Financial Secretary, maintains contact with the Services, Government Departments, industry and agriculture, and regularly obtains and examines correct information and statistics relating to employment. The functions of the committee are "to keep constantly under review the volume of employment and disposition of labour, and to advise the High Commissioner from time to time as to the measures to be taken to prevent unemployment arising from any changes therein". As yet there have been no signs of serious unemployment.

RESETTLEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
76. In the early stages the Commissioner for Migration acted as the coordinating authority in resettlement matters, but as the matter developed it became necessary to have an organization to give effect to Government's intentions. It was decided in January, 1945, that the existing organization of the Department of Labour would be utilized for this purpose, and that advice and assistance to released personnel should be given through the three regional offices of the Department. The Deputy Director of the Department was charged at the same time with the task of coordinating and supervising the various resettlement activities of Government, and was appointed chairman of the Resettlement Advisory Committee. The matters to be considered by the. committee were as follows:-

(i) Giving advice and assistance with a view to the early re-absorption in civil life of ex-servicemen and women;

(ii) Vocational training of discharged personnel desirous and capable of benefiting from such training, including the award of subsistence allowances to trainees; and arrangements for completing interrupted studies or acquiring higher education;

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