Officials Debate Jaffa, Haifa Port Problem

The relative suitability of Haifa and Jaffa as ports for loading and unloading of shipments was discussed here today by representatives of the Jaffa and Tel Aviv Chambers of Commerce and K. W. Stead, director of customs and trade.

Surveying difficulties now encountered at Jaffa, Stead said there was no solution to them except to divert some of the cargoes to Haifa. He asserted timber, coal, cement, iron, crates with automobiles and Jewish immigrants’ effects should be discharged at the latter port.

It was agreed to hold another meeting of the Jaffa Chamber on Saturday. The Jewish chamber will meet on Sunday, and a joint gathering will take place the following day, when Stead will give his final decision.

ARAB DELEGATES OBJECT

Yuself Eff Taleb, an Arab representative, said that the government was to blame for not having heeded the advice of many persons as to port improvement. He said that more than the question of port congestion was involved, but that the livelihood of many elements at Jaffa was at stake.

Mr. Chelouche of the Tel Aviv chamber suggested that a jetty be put up near the Hassan Bey Mosque in Manshia quarter. which would be more central for his city, but the Arab delegates raised objections on the ground that the erection of the jetty there would mean the transfer of the port to Tel Aviv.

TO ERECT WAREHOUSE

Eff Taleb advocated a jetty to be located at, the Arshid quarter. He said the district engineer had agreed to this plan.

At the same time that this discussion was in progress, it was learned that a warehouse with storage accommodations for 2,000,000 cases of citrus fruit is to be built here on the land now being vacated in Birket Al Qamar and the neighboring area.

Demolition of the present three warehouses is to get under way without delay. The new structure, to be put up in their place, will have two stories, 154 yards long by twenty-two yards wide.

The new warehouse is expected to be all finished by December.