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expanded
with the emigration of the refugees from the Low countries. Between
25,000 and 26,000 cutters were available in these countries as against
1,000 cutters in all the other countries put together. A cutting
industry is also said to be developing in South Africa and Palestine.
The expansion of the cutting industry is handicapped by the general
scarcity of skilled labour. The pressure of much higher living costs
render it difficult to work on anything except the larger stones, which
could easily absorb the higher costs with the result the various small
types of stones largely turned out in Antwerp and Amsterdam have become
scarce.
Palestine is now handling small stones, specializing in stones from0.5 to 0.02 of a carat. Now Palestine is the
chief
source of these stones. Some 2,500 workers were reported to be working
there in 1942 in 14 establishments in Tel Aviv and 18 in Nathanya, with
prospects of needing 1,000 more workers.
Post-war Gem Diamond-cutting industry*
(1) Belgium. 1946
may be regarded as the first year of resumed working in which the
difficulties of reopening after the occupation were not present. In
sympathy with the general level of world demand in the first ten months
of the year, the Belgian industry was working to full capacity.
(2) Holland. The
Dutch industry has not revived to the same degree as that of Belgium,
as firstly before the war the Dutch specialized in large sizes in the
production of which there is now greater competition and also due to
reduced number of workers engaged in the industry associated by
non-return of refugees.
(3) Germany. No revival.
* The Mining Journal, Annual Review, No. 1947, April 30th, 1947. 'The Diamond Industry in 1946% pp. 19-23.
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