ZIONIST MISSIONER ARRIVES BY MAHENO

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 88, 5 July 1927, Page 11

ZIONIST MISSIONER ARRIVES BY MAHENO

“WHERE WAS THE DOCTOR?” DR. GOLDSTEIN’S LAMENT * T HAVE visited five continents. I have travelled over all the seas ” Dr. Alexander Goldstein, the Zionist Missioner, who is travelling the world in the interests of the great Jewish Homeland movement, painfully hobbled along a corridor on the Maheno this morning. •' But I have never travelled on a ship which has no doctor!” Goldstein proceeded a few more steps, explaining with expressive shrugs that on joiinng the Maheno at Sydney he had sprained his ankle. Immediately the ship arrived in the stream in Auckland this morning a doctor was dispatched to attend the distinguished Hebrew. “Will it matter if I attend my meetings in slippers?” Dr. Goldstein inquired of the Jewish Reception Committee, which welcomed him on the occasion of his first visit to New Zealand. WILL APPEAR IN SLIPPERS He was assured by Mr. L. Phillips, a member of the committee of the Auckland Zionist Society, Mr. I. Meltzer, secretary of the Auckland Hebrew Congregation, and Mr. Max Robinson, secretary of the society, that slippers would not make the slightest difference.

When the Maheno berthed the visitor was also welcomed by Mr. A. Alfred Nathan and Rabbi Goldstein, of the Auckland congregation. Dr. Goldstein has all the fervour of

the patriot when speaking of the Zion which has been established in the land of an ancient people since the famous Balfour Declaration. Keen of eye and quick of speeefi—though he speaks with a marked foreign accent —this voluble little man was a member of the Russian Duma during the short-lived Kerensky regime. For 11 years lie was one of the editors of the “Rassviet,” the great Jewish newspaper of the Petrograd which is now no more. WORLD-WIDE TRAVELLER In 1919 he was elected to represent the 3,000,000 of the Ukraine on the Committee of Jewish Delegations at the Peace Conference. Orator and organiser. Dr. Goldstein was subsequently entrusted with important missions of behalf of Keren Hayesod, Palestine Foundation Fund. He has travelled the w'orld in the interest of this organisation, which is one of the two great funds which expends its wealth in the re-establishment of the Jews in their national home. Dr. Goldstein spoke with enthusiasm of the changes which have been wrought since Britain accepted the Palestine Mandate. Instead of *he 60,000 Hebrews prior to 1920, there are now 170,000 living in the land of their fathers. Jaffa oranges, as a result of Jewish industry, have captured the L,ondoD market. In many other directions the P lestine Jew, so long oppressed, is increasing his exports. During the last few years tobacco, which was not grown in the Holy Laud during the Turkish occupation, had been cultivated to such an extent that it was even being exported to Egypt. Grapes, bananas, grape-fruit were all being grown. The dairying industry had been established as a result of a successful cross between Dutch and Beyrout breeds of cattle. Likewise the salt industry had been developed to almost unbelievable extent. HARNESSING THE JORDAN

With the harnessing of the Jordan for electrical purposes —Lord Reading is at the head of the £1,000.000 corporation which is controlling this national undertaking—there will be additional prosperity for the Jews who have returned to Palestine. “But all this means money, ’ explained Dr. Goldstein, with another expressive shrug. At the same time, he made it quite clear he was not in New Zealand entirely to collect money. To generally arouse interest in a world work of great importance to Jew and Christian alike is his mission.