THE PROSPEROUS COUNTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 25, 31 January 1933, Page 6

THE PROSPEROUS COUNTRY.

Amid the weary tale of business depression and trade failure it is a relief to hear of some country that can show a continuing and increasing prosperity and a .curve of unemployment .dropping, instead of rising, to the right-hand side of the .graph (says the "Manchester Guardian")., In one country exports for the past year were higher than in the previous one, and unemployment is still further reduced; greater immigration is reported, building activity is maintained, -industrialisation is going forward, and at .the big annual fair at Tel Aviv the number of exhibitors increased from 300 in 1928 to 1300 in 19'32. \ The country displaying this remarkable contrast to the rest of the world is the territory of Palestine, for which Britain holds the League of Nations mandate. The explanation of that country's prosperity in less sophisticated times might 4iave-provided an instance for the tongues of prophets; but a Jess fanciful age will have to fall back-on the more humdrum explanation of -the-inunigrant Jew. In the early days of Zionism it was "the more impoverished and downtrodden members of this race that were the main immigrants. But owing to depression and the lack of opportunity elsewhere a more prosperous class is now attracted. Palestine is one of the few countries that' have not stiffened their regulations about the qualifications for entry, and its liberality in this respect is reaping a considerable economic reward. Whether the continued prosperity and development will lead to better relations between the Jewish and the Arab elements, or whether more Jews will only mean more disparity in wealth is, of course, another matter. However, economic prosperity has generally ■proved a good salve to sore feelings and is cer- j o£,peaca-«md <pnet. j