British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Supplement - Page 69

Year Carats Value (apprcx.)
LP.
1940 1,033 25,000
1941 6,320 207,000
1942 25,689 934,000
1943 58,711 2,609,000
1944 78,555 3,297,000
1945 137,832 5,909,000
1946 116,564 5,501,000

At the inception of the industry, and until 1943, the industry specialised in small stones (30 to 250 per carat). Later, the industry switched over to the processing of medium-sized stones (5 to 40 per carat) while from 1945 onward the rough stones supplied for processing to Palestine were mainly Chips (of irregular form) and Sizes (suitable for the production of larger brilliants). The initiative and adaptability of the Palestine workers stood The industry in good stead when these changes from one type to another became necessary.

After the cessation of hostilities, Government appointed a committee to examine the question of post-war regulation of the Palestine diamond industry.

This committee made recommendations, on the line, which at present govern the industry, and in accordance with which a number of new manifacturing licences are being granted.

Notwithstanding the fact that, after the war, the Belgian industry recovered with unexpected speed, conditions governing the Palestine industry remained favourable until the summer of 1946, when a general decline of prices set in and a set-back was therefore experienced, not in Palestine only, but in all diamond manufacturing centres.

The industry is now going through a period of reorganisation, the main feature of which is to bring about a reduction in costs, to meet the fall in prices which has resulted from the decline in the international demand for polished diamonds.

CEMENT AND STONE.

(p. 530) (§ 157)

At present, the annual output of cement amounts to some 261',000 tons which covers approximately 70% of the country's needs. The plant has only one rotary kiln fired with crude oil and a number of coal-fired shaft kilns. Another rotary kiln is



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