British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 1010

CHAPTER XXVI.

was not launched until the beginning of September, 1945, as it was only at that date that the necessary materials, obtained by importation through special arrangements made with the Middle East Supply Centre and the United Kingdom and United States authorities, arrived in sufficient quantities. Up to the end of November, 1945, licences had been issued for the erection of about 8,000 rooms.

(ii) IMPORT AND EXPORT LICENSING SECTION.

69. In 1941, when it was learned that lease-lend would be extended to Palestine, there was established an engineering imports branch in the Department of Public Works. The lease-lend arrangements were delayed, however, and for some time the branch was mainly occupied in making recommendations to the Director of Customs, Excise and Trade regarding the issue of import licences. In addition, however, it prepared bulk orders for engineering materials, machinery 1 etc. for importation on Government account, and compiled various statistical data on the supply position and requirements of Palestine for the Middle East Supply Centre and other authorities. In July, 1942, the branch was taken over by the new Department of the Controller of Heavy Industries and chemicals and certain fertilizers and dyestuffs were placed under its control; it was also called upon to make certain recommendations with regard to exports.

70. On 1st January, 1943, the Controller of Heavy Industries was made responsible for the issue of import and export licences in respect of those commodities classified as applying to heavy industries, and also a considerable number of other commodities dealt with by other Controllers, e.g. tyres, agricultural machinery etc. Since that time the import and export licensing section of the department has been responsible for the control by licence of imports and exports of these commodities and also for the administration of lease-lend supplies of iron, steel, machinery and similar items.

71. Lease-lend supplies were received through shipping agents in Palestine, or if trans-shipped in Egypt, by arrangements made by the Principal Transport Liaison Officer of the Palestine Government. On arrival the materials were checked and stored in one of the three depots at Tel Aviv, Qalqilya and Haifa. Releases were made only under the authorisation of the Controller, and payment for the goods so released was made to Government by consumers in accordance with a prescribed procedure. There now

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