§ 58. Mr. ASHLEYasked the President of the Board of Trade why, in addition to other woods, the importation of oak, with a view to secure more tonnage space, was not prohibited by the Proclamation of 15th February, seeing that the supply of home-grown oak must be ample in this country, the present sale price being so low as not to leave any profit to the vendor?
Mr. RUNCIMANThe Proclamation of the 15th February was intended to cover woods which are used practically exclusively for furniture purposes, but not to affect woods such as oak which are used for other important industrial purposes and cannot therefore so easily be dispensed with.