300 Technical Experts Hold Two-day Parley on Israel in New York

Three hundred technical experts from the United States and abroad participated today and yesterday in a special “Conference on Technology for Israel and the Middle East” sponsored by the American Technion Society. Nineteen technical papers were delivered by leading figures in the fields of science, engineering and industry on five major topics: natural resources, water supply, housing, technical manpower and power resources of the area.

David Rose, international housing authority and president of the Technion Society, reviewed the housing problems of Israel and pointed out that “the immediate need for housing has caused the builders to seek methods that promise quick and dramatic results.” This has led to many experiments with low cost materials, Mr. Rose said, and although much progress has been made there remains much to be done in the way of research.

Dr. Joseph Barneau, of the Water Resources and Power Section of the United Nations Bureau of Economic Affairs, noting that the area had considerable quantities of brackish water and that Israel had begun a survey of it, suggested development of cheap methods of converting it into sweet water. He also urged research into the use of brackish and salt water in industries, households, agriculture and power generation. Dr. Barnea proposed developing three forms of energy that require little or no fuel transportation–sun, wind and nuclear power.

Professor Abel Wolman, head of the Sanitary Engineering Department of Johns Hopkins University, advocating there-sue of the small water resources of the area, reported that sewage water has been run out to sea, a practice which he termed “a great waste.” The city of Tel Aviv, he said, has agreed to divert this water inland for irrigation purposes, and he expressed the hope that Haifa, Jerusalem and other cities in the area would follow suit.