British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 1000

CHAPTER XXVI

CEREALS AND FLOUR.

35. The Food Control, (Estimation of Crops) Order" was enacted in March, 1942 with the objects of ascertaining the quantities of cereals produced by each cultivator and of ensuring their equitable distribution among consumers. The closer the control of distribution of local cereals the smaller the demand on imported flour and. grain. The estimation of areas cultivated with, and yields of, wheat, barley, millet and maize is carried out by the District Administration. When estimation is complete a system. of inter-village distribution is effected. If the cereal crop exceeds the village requirement, based on 178 kgms. of wheat and millet per capita per annum, the surplus grain is sold to a village where there is a deficiency. These surpluses are generally insufficient to meet all deficiency village requirements, and Palestine standard flour (see below), on the basis of 96 kgms. per capita per annum, is issued to make up deficiencies in local production. For the purpose of calculating human needs wheat and millet only are taken into consideration., cultivators being allowed to retain all their barley and maize for the feeding of their animals and poultry.

36. In February, 1942 the Defence (Control of Mills and Production and Sale of Palestine Standard Flour) Order, 1942 ** was enacted. This prohibited the production of flour other than standard flour and stipulated maximum prices thereof. This Order did not apply to small mills in the rural areas, which are permitted to mill locally produced cereals for rural consumption in accordance with the village distribution scheme mentioned above. Since 1941 there have been frequent changes in the composition of standard flour depending on the type of cereals available. Its present composition is 70% wheat flour and 30% barley flour, with an extraction rate of 85% and 60% respectively. During 1945 some 140,000 tons of standard flour were produced from imported wheat, barley and wheat flour. Small quantities of wheaten flour with an extraction rate of 70%, about 9,000 tons annually, are produced by the maize mills for the production of macaroni, matzoth (unleavened bread for ritual consumption) and baby biscuits.

37. The Food Control (Bread) Rules, 1942 ** *, restricting the price, weight and shape of loaves and the baking of white bread was amended in September, 1945 by the Food Control (Bread) Rules, 1945t which effected considerable relaxions of the pre-
_____________________________________________
* Laws of 1942, Vol. II, page 574-, subsequently replaced by the Defence (Estimation, Allocation and Purchase of Commodities) Regulations (Law11 of 1944. Vol. II, page 471).

** Laws of 1942. Vol. II. page 263 .
*** Laws of 1942. Vol. II. p.1019.

Gazette No. 1437 of 6/9/45, p. 959.

1000