§ 39. Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked the President of the Board of Agriculture 248 whether his attention has been drawn to the Post Office statement that private enterprise in this country has failed to supply sufficient wood for Post Office purposes; whether he is aware that the Post Office said that the wood chiefly required by that Department is easily grown in the United Kingdom; and whether, in face of these facts, he is prepared to provide land and grow wood for Post Office purposes on State land?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. In the management of the Crown forests the requirements of the Post Office will be kept in view, and the Board will also take steps to call the attention of other owners of forests to the statement recently published on behalf of that Department.
§ Mr. PRETYMANCan the right hon. Gentleman give any idea of how many years he thinks it will take to grow this wood?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThat does not arise out of the question, but there is no reason why timber at present growing and matured should not be sold to the Post Office.