§ 23. Mr. JANNERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the trunk road through the Palestine maritime plain, which at present leads from Jaffa and Tel-Aviv to the vicinity of Raananah, _will be completed as far as Haifa before the coming winter; and whether, in view of its value in relieving the pressure on the railways when weather conditions involve the transference of export goods from Jaffa to Haifa, he can state whether its construction is being proceeded with as expeditiously as possible?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo decision has yet been taken with regard to the completion of the Jaffa-Haifa road. I am awaiting the considered views of the High Commissioner for Palestine on this project. The hon. Member is no doubt aware that an extensive improvement scheme is being carried out at the Port of. Jaffa, and it may be hoped that when these improvements have been completed, the necessity for transferring goods from Jaffa to Haifa in periods of bad weather will be greatly diminished.
§ Mr. JANNERApart from that, does not the right hon. Gentleman know that considerable difficulty has been experienced by the travelling and commercial public along that road; and is he not also aware of the fact that he is cutting off large areas from the ports by not having this road completed? In the circumstances, will he see that the public in Palestine are secured against the possibility of similar happenings to those which occurred last year when the floods were out?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am aware that this road is under consideration now by both the Advisory committee and the High Commissioner.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the railways do not want this road and the settlers do?