VERY SUCCESSFUL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3292, 26 July 1943, Page 6

VERY SUCCESSFUL

LARGE COMMUNAL FARMS AWAITI BOY’S EXPERIENCE SETTLERS IN PALESTINE A very interesting account of a visit which he paid to communal farms in Palestine, which he described as a sincere combined effort to attain a good standard of living and education for a collective group of people without losing sight of ability or characteristics, is given by Spr. J. W. Cheale of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Middle East in the following letter to his father, Mr W. H. Cheale, of Awaiti. Spr. Cheale writes as under:— . “Here is the long-promised account of my trip to the communal farms of. Ma’aleh Hamishah and Kiryat Anavin, both situated about ten miles from Jerusalem to the north-west set in the hills in soil that is heart-breaking in its virgin state, requiring months of hard toil to make it suitable for agricultural purposes—much blasting is necessary to get rid of ’ acres of huge rocks weighing tons. Most of the soil is a brick red in colour and very course and rubbly and needs much attention and feeding to be of any use. The Trip To The Farm “Alex and I did this, trip on Tuesday, October 13, 1942, in much cooler weathei* than we had experienced yet on our leave. One catches the bus at the ‘Egged” bus station on the Jaffa road and travels to the Manneh Yehuda quarter where one contacts the bus-at the Truva shop corner and thus proceeds along a drive that for sheer breathtaking hairpin bends must surely be unequalled elsewhere unless it is the famous Burma road. The surface throughout is perfect but Bob Semple would delight in doing a few spots of bulldozer work. “There was little of interest at the Ma’aleh. Hamishah settlement as it is entirely new—a matter of a few years old and very much retarded due to the war. It is definitely interesting to compare with the older farms later on. The wind breaks are still very ineffectual and in winter the fruit trees and vineyards still suffer a great deal as do the cattle which are artificially fed, a very costly business just now. Heavily-Wooded Hills “I think it will be many years before the people on this settlement see much in return for their hard work under almost primitive conditions. “I shall leave that farm and give you as complete a picture of Kiryat Anavin, the oldest settlement, as I possibly can. It presents an entirely different picture as it is approached—nestled in a valley of heavily-wooded hills with gardens, orchards, homes, etc., looking very peaceful and homely and, unlike Egypt, smoke coming from chimneys in each building. Started In 1922 “This particular settlement was farmed in 1922 by 28 men—Russians, Poles, Germans'—on an area of 333 acres, the property of the National Fund and run by a committee of members of the community all of whom have a chance to be on this committee. The entire scheme is more socially democratic than any I have heard of without 'being in any way communistic as alb members are free to leave as it suits them and are given enough to put them on a good footing in the outside world. VNo'person is paid as we know payments b,ut receive all requirements and &tras as a natural course of events. Social life is very full, with many musical evenings with visiting artists, fortnightly trips to city entertainments and daily buses. The life is healthy, happy, free and very modern in its outlook inasmuch that the women can smoke and dress as they wish. English Encouraged “English is spoken freely and is the one language that is really encouraged. In 1942 the population was 359 persons including 70 AU members ‘pay’ taxes after one stay on the farm. This pays for stock replacements, materials not locally produced, fuels, etc. “The community has its own schools, convalescent homes, dispensary, nurseries and kindergarten and doctors visit regularly to check on equipment, etc. Trained nurses reside there. “The schools take in boarded children at £6 per week on a scheme of education based on half a day of learning and half a day of practical work for all. All children have fine official meals daily. Meals Are Meatless “Food is in the hands of practised dieticians and meals are meatless, plain but perfectly served in a good variety, in ‘messing’ halls of modern

design with all attention to air filtration and served from very modern kitchens in which the women take their turn at working. “One car is set aside for convalescents at all times and used for no othei’ purpose while the farm has four lorries at its disposal. “The life blood of the entire scheme at all times is water as is common to these parts of the world, despite heavy rainfall during the short winter and every precaution is taken to preserve all the moisture possible as a reserve against possible shortage from the city reservoirs. Irrigation is used throughout. The whole is electrically supplied but can generate its own power if the emergency arises. Settlers’ First Task “The first task facing the new settlers was the reafforestation of the higher ground to serve as breakwinds and later as timber supply. This has been very successful and the district is becoming very heavily wooded in parts with pines and gums as distinct from the ever-present olive groves. The original forests of Palestine were completely annihilated by the Turks (1517-1917). “The main fruit of the farm is apples, plums, cherries, etc., all exceeded by the white and black grapes. Citrus fruits are products of the naturally fertile and warmer plains. Of course the machinery etc., now used is modern and speeds up production as different from the early days when all labour was hand work. Vegetables are'grown for seed supply and sunflower for food and oil as is the artichoke (Jerusalem type). Don’t forget the olive market. A Splendid Herd “ Now for the cows. It did our hearts good to see some really splendid beasts and made us think of the advertisement regarding milk from contented cows. A herd of 250 cows, contented cows. A herd of 250 cows, all Friesian thoroughbreds (that should be pure-bred I think), are milked four times daily, all by hand and no more than 14 to one milker, all of whom are picked men. In pre-war days all cows were bought abroad but now at this time it is all intercommunity buying and even so all new beasts are quarantined and sprayed and fed on food supplied from its place of origin for a while. All feeding is done by hand. Food For Cows “Breeding is performed by artificial semination and all calves are tabulated and pedigrees listed at birth and a check kept on progress. I forgot to mention the style of food for the herd. Chiefly hay and an ensilage of hops and orange peel with a fair quantity of grass and Interne and maize. This latter comes from Tel Aviv in this instance. “The milking sheds are fairly spacious and very clean. There are six aril told of roughly 29 feet by 35-40 feet long. The millorfs sent to Tenuva (sorry I failed ,3o check on that position) and supplies of cheese and butter come from there. These foods are not made on the farm. “An independent bakery is in operation and turns out some good stuff as I can guarantee since we had two meals there. No Shortage of Eggs “There is no shortage of poultry of which some 3990' white leghorns are kept in up-to-the-minute yards and houses. All incubator breeding and eggs are sexed on the spot with very little percentage in failures. All this department is handled by expert poultry farmers and is one of the best ‘paying’ branches in the community. “The apiaries are, to us who are familiar with such, not very impressive, but taking into consideration the country and the lack of natural sources of ‘honey’ the 'bees give a very splendid account of themselves especially when the fruit trees bloom. “A very ‘lucrative’ by-product of the settlement is mushrooms which are in plentiful supply in the autumn months (August-October or perhaps a little later); These are gathered daily by the children and the surplus from each picking is sent to the market where a high price is paid. The proceeds are put to the common fund which pays for holiday trips, special hospital or doctors’ fees or any expenses of that nature. Mushrooms On Forest Slopes “The mushrooms grow only in the shape of the ‘forest slopes’ which are moist and warm with the rain of early autumn following the full heat of summer. There growth is very definitely encouraged as being a real asset in every way—food value, commercial value and the fact that the children are given plenty of healthy exercise in the harvesting of each crop. “Although eating, etc., is all done in a common mess hall married folk have their own private homes of two or three rooms with all furnishings, etc., to their taste as xar as possible. The nurseries and kindergartens are all that is to be desired in such and

the children are under constant observation all the time. Living In Harmony “In fact the entire settlement gives one a feeling that the members are living in a perfect harmony with life and themselves in a manner very creditable to civilisation. .'Here is a sincere combined effort to attain a good standard of living and education for a collective group of people without losing sight of individual ability or characteristics and to further such showing of ability, with the proper training and tuition necessary. “True it was all begun due to the serious and embarrassing increase in population due to an influx of refugees from Europe, more especially the Balkans and also from Russia, and thus people were more or less forced into the settlements irrespective of personal views but since those times whole sections have moved freely to the communal farms and find a very happy and free life, clean and healthy, although hard work is the basis. Return To Jerusalem Personally I was sorry to leave as soon as we did and the night was very cold for the trip home which made it harder leaving, especially aftei’ catching a glimpse of one or two girls and a faint sound' of music from a wire-

less. It all made one think of a fireside at home but one cheered up at the Ophis Cafe where we had another mea] of Viennese shaitzel and then joined the 'boys of the Palestin police ‘gang’ at a party after which we returned to the club very early in the morning, very tired, but entirely satisfied with our visit. ‘Well that’s the best I can do on the subject—my only regret is the fact that I had no camera to record anything and as nothing in the settlement is commercialised no photos were on sale as in most spots one visits. If there is anything I’ve been a bit lazy on don’t forget' to say so and I will see if I can dig up more information on same. Settlements Increasing “Anything of interest you may find' in this you can use wherever you like.. Some things I have written on are' definitely my. own. impressions and viewpoints but the facts are there and can be vouched for as correct. “The two ‘statements’ enclosed are the* letters of introduction to the secretary of each farm we visited. The names are a bit distorted but that is a mere item. Don’t lose sight of the fact that these community settlements: exist throughout the entire country and are steadily increasing.”