British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 1021

CHAPTER XXVI.

and paper handkerchiefs) and restricted sizes of show-cards, menus and programmes.

99. In August, 1942, the Defence (Control of Paper, Office Machines, Stationery and Office Equipment) Order," was enacted, placing all types of paper, stationery etc., under control. This order provided for the declaration of stocks of paper exceeding 50 kgs. and of all types of office machines; dealers in any of the controlled articles had to be licensed; and no printer or manufacturer was permitted to execute, without obtaining the authority of the Controller, any order which involved the use of paper or hoard exceeding 25 kgs.

The importation of paper and cardboard has been left in the hands of the trade with the exception of newsprint of which Government was the sole importer through the U.K.C.C. All arrivals of newsprint under existing licences were taken over by Government upon arrival; the actual distribution of the newsprint was under control of the Public information Office.

100. Economy in the use of imported cardboard was chiefly effected by substitution of locally manufactured products. The local output of cardboard by two factories repulping waste paper in 1942 was 35-40 tons per month. A third factory using vegetable fibre as well as waste paper started production in 1943, and the country's monthly output was brought up to 80 tons at the beginning, and to more than 100 tons at the end, of the year. At present, the existing four cardboad factories and one paper mill have a combined output of about 160 tons per month, although unable to work at full capacity owing to the shortage of waste paper.

101. Utility slationery. A Utility scheme to cover writing paper and pads was launched at the end of 1942 in order to reduce prices on the local market. About 80 tons of paper per annum are set aside for this purpose.

102. Book control. In collaboration with the Price Controller and as a result of the enforcement of the Defence (Control of Books) Order 1942,** profiteering by- wholesalers on the sale of books and periodicals imported from the United Kingdom was stopped; retail prices consequently dropped considerably.

103. As a measure of de-control, the control of all articles of stationery, except those manufactured only or mainly from paper, ceased as from the 17th May, 1945. Similarly, control of all
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*Laws of 1942, Vol. III, page 1367.
** Laws of 1942, Vol. Ill, page 1877.

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