31. Lieut.-Colonel W. GUINNESSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the forthcoming rise of 6s. 6d. in agricultural wages was taken into account before the 19 recent decision was arrived at to reduce the price of 2½-inch pit wood from 12s. 6d. to 9s. 6d.; and whether the timber prices will now be reconsidered?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI have been asked by my hon. and gallant Friend to reply to this question. The answer to the first part of the question is "No," and to the second part, "Unless experience shows it to be necessary it will not be."
32. Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the authorised price of 30s. to the importer of 2½-inch pitwood as against 9s. 6d. for the same article to the British producer gives a preference of over 200 per cent. to the foreigner over the British producer of timber; and what is the reason for this discrimination against British forestry?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe price at which 2½-inch imported pitwood may be sold is not fixed as there is practically no market for it in this country. A considerable quantity of pitwood of this size is used but the demand is more than met by home-grown timber at prices below the maximum of 9s. 6d. per 100 lineal feet; therefore the question of preference does not arise.