§ MR. PUGHasked the Postmaster General, Whether it is the fact that the Post Office Department uses foreign timber only for telegraph posts, whereas many Railway Companies use homegrown timber for that purpose; and, if so, whether he will cause inquiry to be made as to the relative price and value of home-grown and foreign timber in different portions of the United Kingdom, with a view to directing the use of home-grown timber where such a course can be adopted with advantage or without prejudice to the public service.
§ MR. FAWCETT, in reply, said, that it was the case, as stated by his hon. Friend, that the telegraph poles used by the Post Office were made of foreign timber. He had ascertained that foreign timber was also used by the leading Railway Companies for similar purposes. The reason why it was chosen instead of home-grown timber was in consequence of its greater durability, owing to the property it possessed of taking on creosote readily. Scotch and English timber would not take it so well. This creosote made the poles last very much longer, and consequently they were cheaper.