British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 1005. Chapter XXVI: War Economic Measures: Section 4: War Time Economic Control: (a) Price Control in Palestine before 1948 (Nakba),

CHAPTER XXVI.

Maximum prices remain in force for bananas, potatoes and onions and maximum profit margins are fixed for a wide range of vegetables", Municipalities of the main towns are encouraged to supervise the sale of vegetables at selected shops which are supplied at reduced prices by agreement between the trade and the Control authorities.

PULSES.

53. Various Orders were published from time to time restricting imports and sale, but owing to the improved supply position these restrictions have been lifted.

TEA AND COFFEE.

54. The Food Control (Tea) Order, 1944** provides for the marketing of tea imported on Government account in specially labelled packages. In March, 1944, when Government tea was placed on the market. other stocks in the country were frozen and were only released for sale through normal trade channels at controlled prices after the assessing of a fixed surtax.

55. Various Orders were promulgated restricting the import, sale, price and movement of coffee. Imports are made through two organised associations, one Jewish and one Arab, on the basis of 40% to 60% respectively of the total quantities authorised. On arrival the coffee is graded according to prices; Government takes an elastic margin, thereby ensuring a static price to the consumer and a reasonable margin of profit to the trade.

(b) Price Control.

56. The Department of Price Control was established in July, 1942, the Controller being appointed as the Controlling Authority for the purposes of the Defence (Prevention of Profiteering) Regulations***.

57. The object of the anti-profiteering legislation is to keep prices down by restricting profits by means of :-

(a) defining the channels through which a commodity shall pass on its way from the importer or manufacturer to the consumer;

(b) requiring retailers to exhibit clearly the price of any commodity exposed for sale;
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* Palestine Gazette No. 1465, page 26, dated 3.1.46 .
** Laws of 1944, Vol. II, page 218 .
*** Laws of 1944, Vol. III, page 939.

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