CO129-456 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1919 [10-12] — Page 474

0 P Y.

Enclosure 1.

Haif,

C.O

10091

REP

455

Bru 25TB 20

The British Consul,

Hongkong, China.

Palestine, October 31st, 1919.

Sir,

I am a recently demobilised Australian Major now residing in Haifa, Palestine, and interested in Agriculture Labor is both scarce end of very inferior quality. The people indolent, lazy and inapt.

I am interested in and managing an Agricultural Estate within 2 miles of Haifa comprising about 15,000 acres of land, suitable for intense culture and have 3 motor tractors and other machinery at work. I feel surs Chinese as labourers and ar

tenants would de well hare.

Haifa has a population of including Military about 15,000. The port of Haifau is spcken of a ultimately becoming a British Naval Base. These factors ensure a goon markat at our door Wheat barley, dhurra maize, sesgame, potatoes, onions, olives, figs, oranges, dubes - cotton, banaans do well here vegetables of all kinds.

-

and

The rainfall is approx. 25 inches, and this falls between November and March. Tatar is obtainable at from 3 feet from the surface and is easily mado available for irrigation purposes. The soil consists of rich red and black soils and sandy loom. May I ask you please to inform me

(1). Can Chinese be imported here under indenture, or other-

-wise,

(2) On what terms wages and conditions can they be engagal, (3) Can arrangements be made for their transport and, if

so, approx. cost of transport for say 50 Chinese. The fellaheen on the estate cultivate the land and we as o-mers take one-fifth of the produce grom; and we would be prepared to make similar arrangements with Chinese as well as hiring a

certain