§ 95. Mr. COWANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what steps, if any, have been taken by the Home-Grown Timber Committee or other authority under his Department to protect the State against the exaction by timber owners of excessive prices for pit-wood and timber of similar class required for purposes essential to the country?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Acland)I do not think that timber owners have been in a position to exact excessive prices. The question of protecting the State-against such exaction has, therefore, not arisen, but I may say that there is power under the Defence of the Realm Regulations to requisition timber in certain circumstances; compensation for timber so requisitioned would be fixed by the Defence of the Realm Losses Royal Commission.
§ Mr. COWANIf I send the right hon. Gentleman particulars of prices recently-paid, will he give further consideration to the subject?
§ Mr. ACLANDI will be very glad to do so.
§ 96. Mr. COWANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the many complaints in Scotland of the wholesale clearances in certain districts of young thriving timber for pit-wood and military purposes while there is still available suitable timber which might be taken without serious detriment to the future timber crop of the country; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. ACLANDI understand that neither the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries nor the Scottish Office has received any substantiated complaints of the character indicated; and although I know that certain representations have appeared in the Press on the subject, I am of opinion that they have been made without sufficient information or inquiry, and I cannot, therefore, see my, way to recommend any change of practice in the matter.
Mr. E. HARVEYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether simultaneously with the clearing of these timber woods arrangements have been made for the planting of timber?
§ Mr. ACLANDNo, Sir; there is no labour.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are a large number of German prisoners in this country who are trained in afforestation?
§ Mr. ACLANDYes, Sir; we are getting all that we can to cut down timber, which is urgently needed.
§ 97. Mr. COWANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that, as fixed by his award for the current year, the present prices of pit-wood are four to five times those ruling immediately before the War; whether his attention has been called to the fact that the increase in the price of pit-wood during the War has resulted in a rise of over 2s. a ton in the cost of coal at Scottish collieries; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. ACLANDThere has been a considerable rise in the cost of pit-wood during the War owing to restricted supplies and increased cost of production and carriage. In isolated instances, thongh not generally, the increase may have been as great as my hon. Friend states, but his 52 suggestion that the rise of pit-wood prices has in Scotland caused a rise of 2s. a ton in coal is entirely unjustified by any facts known to me, and I think unjustifiable. The general position with, regard to pit-wood supplies is receiving the constant attention of the Departments concerned, but it is not proposed at present to limit the price of pit-wood.