British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 1030. Chapter XXVI: War Economic Measures: Section 4: War Time Economic Control: (g) Control of Agricultural Production in Palestine before 1948 (Nakba)

CHAPTER XXVI.

MISCELLANEOUS.

127. The department has also been instrumental in arranging for the collection and utilization of other types of scrap materials,

among which the following were the most prominent : •

(a) Bones and carcasses are employed for the extraction of glue, the manufacture of buttons, combs and active coal and the production of bone and meat meal.

(b) Huleh reeds waste were used in the production of tropical helmets and insulating boards.

(c) Broken bottles are cut down to produce mugs and ash trays; glassware and emery paper are produced from broken glass. (d) Textile waste is used as cotton wipers and in the spinning of new yarn.

(e) Film scrap serves as a raw material in the production of lacquer paints and in the manufacture of spectacle frames, protractors, etc.

([) Garbage from refuse dumps is processed into organic fertilizer.

(g) Control o! Agricultural Production.

128. In July, 1942 an Agricultural Production Officer was appointed to stimulate increased food production by all practicable means, including new schemes which required the direct expenditure of Government funds and the grant to farmers of special Government loans amounting to approximately £P.900,000. Later, as more direct control of the means of production became necessary, the appointment was changed to that of Controller of Agricultural Production and the holder was appointed to be a Competent Authority under Defence Regulation 46 in order to control the distribution and sale of such imports as fertilizers. seed potatoes, agricultural machinery, plant protection products and other agricultural materials.

By continuing his normal functions as Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries the Controller has been able to utilize the resources of that department, particularly the services of the field personnel.

129. B:-- virtue of his powers under the Defence (Fertilizers) Order, 1943* the Controller has exercised control of the importation, acquisition and sale of nitrogenous fertilizers and their distribution at controlled prices to persons engaged in agriculture. He has also served as a member of a committee set up under the chairmanship of the Controller of Heavy Industries and Director
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* Laws of 1943, Vol. III, page 941.

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