British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 814. Chapter XVIII: Town Planning and The Problem of Housing : Section 5: The Supply of Building Material

CHAPTER XVIII.

Table 13 (contd.).

Trade Arab I Jewish labour
labour Jerusalem J *.rel Aviv J . Haifa
Plasterers 1st Class f 36 I 70 47
and Class 42 26 - 86
3rd Class I 24 44 30
Plumbers 1st Class - 17 87 9
2nd Class - 21 32 5
3rd Class - 22 48 7
Painters 1st Class f 47 54 61
2nd Class 56 47 57 45
3rd Class 78 55 38
Floor tilers 1st Class I 36 70 47
2nd Class 18 26 - 35
3rd Class 24 44 30
Other skilled 1st Class - 36 70 47
labourers 2nd Class - 26 - 85
3rd Class - 24 44 30
Unskilled labour 78 36 29 37 Section 5.

THE SUPPLY OF BUILDING MATERIALS.

69. The supply position of the primary building materials has improved considerably during the latter half of 1945 and with the exception of timber and a number of secondary materials the situation is as satisfactory as can be expected at the present time.

TIMBER.

70. As regards timber, this presents one of the most difficult supply problems with which Palestine is faced as, although the position has improved since 19H, it is still very far from satisfactory. Only two shipments have been received from Canada and one from the United States, the latter being not entirely satisfactory. It has therefore been necessary to rely almost wholly upon Turkey and Portugal. From the point of view of price, Turkey is a very unsatisfactory market : export costs are much inflated, the usual prices, f.o.b. Mersina, being of the order of £.28.- to .£.32.- per cubic metre which is over eight times the pre-war cost of superior quality timber. Brazil has recently been added to the list of loading areas from which Palestine may draw supplies of timber; but in view of the lack of direct sea communication this new source may prove to be of little practical value.

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