British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 1019

CHAPTER XXVI.
capacity to the Controller on questions of policy as regards supply, distribution, etc. It affords, too, a convenient means of expression of opinion for the different sections of the community and encourages cooperation on the part of non-official circles. The Controller is chairman of this committee and there are four Arab and four Jewish members.

(b). Hides and leather.

94. Due to the demand for locally made boots by the military authorities and the placing of a considerable order (150,000 pairs of boots) for the Turkish Army by the U.K.C.C. in August, 1941, a marked shortage of hides was experienced in the country. Supplies of hides at that time were not sufficient to cover the needs created by these orders. Moreover, a large proportion of the hides in the country were being exported to Turkey where high prices were being realised.

95. The enactment, in July, 1941, of the Cattle Hides and Leather (Control) Order*, was intended to protect the tanning industry by putting all dealings in bides (which were only permitted under licence) under a strict supervision. Maximum prices for hides were prescribed. Merchants as well as tanners had to submit monthly returns of purchases, sales and stocks. At first only leather required for Army boots was controlled, i.e., vegetable-tanned upper leather and all kinds of sole leather. Stocks were registered and prices to be charged by the tanneries were fixed. The latter were also bound by contract to deliver certain quantities of leather to the Army boot* manufacturers. This Order, however, did not fix prices at which leather merchants might resell the leather, and, consequently, as the civilian demands exceeded the available supplies, prices of leather continued to rise. More stringent measures were imposed in December, 1941, by the Cattle Hides and Leather (Control) Order (No. 2)**. Hide companies were formed in each of the four larger towns in Palestine and competition between the hide dealers was thus eliminated. The companies were under an obligation to sell hides at fixed prices in accordance with the instructions of the Control. Merchants as well as tanners were compelled to sell leather at fixed prices. Hoarding was prohibited, all dealings were subject to licences, stocks had to be declared, monthly returns of sales and purchases bad to be submitted and every leather merchant had to display a price list on the premises. In spite of these measures strict control was not completely effective; a central hides depot was therefore set up for the sorting and distribution of all hides, and
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* Laws of 1941, Vol. III, page 1115.
** Laws of 1941, Vol. III, page 1832.

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