§ 39. Mr. BOSSOMasked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will issue instructions that in future the soft wood used in building contracts entered into by his Department shall be Canadian, and that the standard Canadian sizes of such timber shall be accepted in place of the corresponding but slightly larger European sizes?
§ The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)I am advised that there will shortly be available in this country Canadian soft woods which can be regarded as adequate substitutes for the European soft woods normally used at present for carpentry and internal joinery for building purposes. I am also advised that there is no technical objection to the standard Canadian sizes in which this timber will be imported, being used in place of the corresponding, but slightly larger, European sizes. I am, accordingly, giving instructions that, in all major building contracts for which my Department obtains tenders after May, 1933, it shall be specified that the soft wood used for carpentry and internal joinery (except in a certain number of cases where a special finish is required) shall be from Canadian or other approved Empire sources, and that where Canadian wood is used the standard Canadian sizes will be accepted.
§ Mr. D. GRENFELLIs the Department nullifying the effect of these good intentions by slowing down building?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORENot at all.
§ Sir HERBERT SAMUELIs the decision of the right hon. Gentleman to be regardless of the cost of the timber?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORENo, this is a specific act of Imperial preference.
§ Sir H. SAMUELRegardless of cost?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI must have notice of that question.
Mr. REMERMWhile appreciating the answer to the full, will the right hon. Gentleman be careful to see that the concession that he has given will be confined to British Columbian timber and will not include East Canadian timber?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORECertainly not. It will be open to all Canadian or Empire timbers generally, including homegrown.
§ Mr. REMERWill the right hon. Gentleman confine the concession to timber of the strength that is necessary? That is not the case with Eastern Canadian timber.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI am not satisfied with that. I am advised that not only in British Columbia but in other parts of the Empire the wood is sufficiently good.
§ Mr. THORNEWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the price of the soft Canadian timber?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe question of price always comes in, but I have provided that, in the major work carried out by my Department, tenders will be on the basis that Empire timber shall be used.
§ Sir H. SAMUELAre we to understand that the cost is not taken into account?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIf the cost were raised unreasonably against my Department by this concession, the concession would have to be considered, but I want to be quite clear that cost is not going to be the only consideration.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWill the right hon. Gentleman be able to give the House any figures showing the quantity of Canadian timber that he will be able to use in substitution for Northern European timber Is he aware that only a very small proportion of the Canadian product will be suitable?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe right hon. Gentleman knows that hitherto there have not been visible and available sufficient Canadian supplies to make this concession with safety, and that is why it has not been done hitherto, but now I have been advised that sufficient Canadian supplies are forthcoming. Accordingly, I am introducing this into the Department.