§ 74. Mr. HAYDN JONESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Timber Supplies Department in September, 1917, offered £5,700 for the timber on certain farms near Machynlleth, such offer being subsequently increased in November, 1917, to £6,400, and to £11,850 350 in March, 1918; whether he is aware that the timber has been purchased by a private firm for £15,000; and whether he will grant permission for its sale?
§ Mr. WARDLEInformal offers of the lower amounts were made in the autumn of 1917 based upon rough estimates of the amount of timber involved. After negotiations and detailed valuation, £11,850 was offered on 12th March. This was refused, and, in view of the urgent need of such timber for colliery purposes, the timber was requisitioned on 8th April; price will therefore be determined by the Defence of the Realm Losses Commission. It was not until 23rd April that application from a private firm for permit under the Standing Timber Order, 1917, without which no sale could be made, was received. This was necessarily refused, the timber having been requisitioned a fortnight previously.
§ Mr. WATTCan the hon. Gentleman say whether the valuer of this timber knew anything about timber, seeing that the valuations were so different from the market price?
§ Mr. WARDLEIt was a question of the amount of timber involved.