Grave anxiety is felt over existing conditions by all concerned with the importation of timber here. The Jaffa customs area is greatly overcrowded and steamers arriving at Jaffa have to stand by for a number of days before they can commence unloading. There is scarcely any empty space for storage ashore and while the importers are dissatisfied with the late arrival of their wood, steamship companies are coming to know Jaffa as one of the undesirable ports, owing to the long time vessels are detained and the loss of time and money the delay involves.
Importers and agents are asking themselves whether the government is really doing everything possible, especially in view of the fact that the cash receipts at the Jaffa customs average some 3,000 pounds or more per day.
During last week the Smaland arrived with 206 standards of wood and had to stand by for three days until Tuesday, and the steamer finished discharging only on Thursday night. The Slesvig arrived on July 23 and had to wait to commence discharging cargo on July 28.
The Heworth is due shortly with some 1,260 tons of iron, cement and general cargo and will most probably be faced with a delay.
What makes the position still more serious is the fact that the importation of boxwood for orange boxes has not yet commenced in real earnest, and when it starts the port will in all probability be completely congested.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
