§ MR. REESI beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether experts support the view that home-grown is not more durable than Norwegian timber and cannot be creosoted to the same advantage; and whether it is sufficiently established 1225 beyond all doubt that home-grown timber cannot be used for telegraph poles without loss to the Department.
§ THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. SYDNEY BUXTON, Tower Hamlets, Poplar)As regards the first Question the Answer is in the affirmative. As regards the general question, I have already written fully to my hon. friend on the subject.
§ MR. REESwas understood to ask if the Norwegians were not interested in maintaining the claim that their timber was more durable?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONPerhaps they are, but that does not affect the question. I am very anxious indeed to get offers of suitable British timber for telegraph poles, and if I receive them they certainly will be sympathetically considered.