§ 4. Captain BENNETT-GOLDNEYasked the Secretary of State for War if, as it is fully recognised that scientific lumbering and forestry have been but rarely practised in this country and that British officers have therefore had but few opportunities of becoming expert in this particular work, which has now assumed such unexpected importance both in Great Britain and in the British war zones in France and elsewhere, he will place the directorate of all war-lumbering work, both at Home and abroad, under experienced and trained Canadian lumbermen and engineers, who have already proved themselves so superior in this work in this country?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI fully recognise the valuable assistance rendered by the Canadian Lumbermen's Battalions in the exploitation of forests in this country and it has already been arranged, for the proper co-ordination of their work, that all the battalions, whether at Home or abroad, should operate under the direct control of one expert Canadian officer. The suggestion made by the hon. Member that all lumbering work should be put under Canadian direction is being carried out as regards the cutting of soft wood in France, though it is not considered desirable to disturb arrangements for cutting other kinds of timber in the immediate vicinity of the zone of military operations. As regards operations in this country, I have communicated the suggestion to the Home-grown Timber Committee, who will doubtless consider it very carefully.