Report to the ... Zionist Congress and to the Council of the Jewish Agency in ... · 1935-08-01 · 8.1935 · p. Seite 307

(3) The formation of special companies for the erection of workers' dwellings in colonies. As the activity in connection with the erection of camps of various kinds became very extensive, and over 2,000 persons were already living in the camps opened up by us, the Jewish Agency decided to create special companies for the erection of workers' dwellings in order to extend and promote its activity by the investment of capital from the most varied sources. The first company, which has already begun operations, consists in equal parts of representatives of the Jewish Agency and of the workers (legal representatives of the Histadruth). Both bodies have invested £5,000 each, that is, altogether £10,000, to provide the initial capital. The Jewish Agency has promised a further sum of £1,000. The amounts were invested in the year 5695 in dwellings constructed by this new company. Besides this company another one was formed by the Jewish Agency in conjunction with the directors of the " Settlement Fund " of the Vaad Leumi. Each partner has so far contributed £P. 1,500. This first sum of £3,000 is being used for the erection of small houses for wage labourers in small colonies where workers are engaged in agriculture. The first houses will be completed this summer on a plot of land that has been provided for this purpose by the K.K. between Nathania and the Emek Hefer. Small dwellings are being built for Yemenite and Turkish families, each family receiving about two dunam of land as an auxiliary farm. This activity represents the beginning of a comprehensive activity in this direction. We shall endeavour to increase the capital of this company in the coming year. Besides, the Jewish Agency intends to found a special mortgage institute in order to provide loans for small buildings for workers and colonies. The Labour Department has entered into negotiations with the Board of Directors of the K.K. for the purpose of obtaining plots that are in its possession in various places on which wage-labourers can be established, and also for the purpose of acquiring new plots so far as that is possible. The K.K. has already promised suitable plots for this purpose in the neighbourhood of Magdiel and some other colonies. The Labour Dept. is also negotiating with the Directors of the PICA in order to be able to settle hundreds of labourers' families •on its lands in the neighbourhood of Hedera, Kerkur, Pardess- Hana and Benjamina. These plots are lying fallow, and, thanks to their geographical position, they are very suitable for our purpose. A part of the lands that we have asked for have already been promised, and we hope to obtain throughout Samaria and Lower Galilee, which is becoming the scene of increasing economic .activity, the lands that we shall need in the next few years for .the settlement of labourers. 307