PALESTINE TO-DAY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18589, 27 December 1934, Page 14

PALESTINE TO-DAY

GROWTH OF INDUSTRY

ABSENCE OF UNEMPLOYED

MARKED CHANGES NOTED

“Palestine is the only country in the world where there are no unemployed,” said Mr. David Nathan, who has returned from an extensive trip j abroad. He was accompanied by his son, Mr. D. R. Nathan. During his trip Mr. Nathan flew from London to Cairo, and spent a short time in Palestine. Later he visited a number of tea gardens in Ceylon, and then proceeded to Japan, ManclniKUQ and China.

Air. Nathan was particularly impressed with the settlement of Tel Aviv, in Palestine, which he remembered as a ureary sanay plain a few years ago. Today it had a population of 60.000. a large local -industry based on the growing of oranges and grape fruit, and was a modern seaside resort. There had been a great' change in the countfys.de the modern farming methods adopted by the Zionist settlers making the land many times more productive than was possible under the primitive operations of the natives. Public security was improving all the time, and the country seemed to be settling down to steady progress after the inevitable turmoil following the post-war reconstruction. Haifa had become a great port, stated Mr. Nathan, its importance being much increased by the Irak oil pipe line. 'Many factories of different kinds had sprung up near the town, enjoying the double advantage of being near a sea port and of getting their power from the Ttutenberg hydro-electric power scheme, which was steadily accomplishing the complete reticulation of Palestine. The residential district above the town on Mount Carmel was a most pleasant spot, high - among the trees, with extensive views over the Bay of Acre. The progress made by Jerusalem had also been most remarkable. The new King David Hotel was equal to those of the large European cities, and the fine university, with its modern buildings, was attracting scholars from all over the world. An excellent passenger aeroplane service was operating from Haifa to Port Said, and Mr. Nathan Travelled in comfort in a four-passenger aeroplane, the trip, -including a stop for lunch, taking about four hours, a great contrast to the prewar caravan journey of many days. At a later stage of his tour, Mr. Nathan travelled through Korea and Manchukuo, through thousands of miles of fertile plains, stretching in every direction as far as the eye could see. The Japanese influence had been accosted and rapid progress was being made. The turbulent state of the country still demanded the presence of armed troops, but foreigners were treated with courtesy. Even further south, in Pekin, Japan was steadily penetrating the commercial life.