asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the news that the improvements at the Jaffa port will not be completed until next January has given rise to serious apprehension amongst citrus growers in Palestine with regard to the conditions under which next season's crop will be loaded; and whether, in view of the greatly increased exports which are probable, arrangements can be made to complete this work at least as early as the end of October next?

I am quite satisfied that the High Commissioner for Palestine will, see that everything possible is done to expedite the completion of this work.

Will the right hon. Gentleman for once inquire into the question in order to give the benefit of his advice to the High Commissioner; and will he take into account the fact that on 27th February there was a meeting of the Directorate of Customs held in Jaffa at which the general conclusion was reached that Haifa would not be able to cope with the cases of oranges which had to be passed through for transport, and that it was essential to have further opportunities?

I gave the matter careful consideration when I was in Palestine, and the result of that was a very large expenditure upon the improvement of the Port of Jaffa. That work is going on, and I really wish that the hon. Gentleman would give the High Commissioner of Palestine and his staff credit for doing, as everybody else knows they do, everything that is possible.

Why, if they concentrate on Haifa, cannot they make a road from Jaffa to Haifa down which the oranges could come?

We are not concentrating on Haifa. The answer which I have given shows that we are greatly improving the Port of Jaffa.