§ 46. Brigadier - General CLIFTON BROWNasked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that in any negotiations with the Dominions and Colonies at Ottawa with reference to imports of timber, including soft woods, into this country, due regard will be had to developing and maintaining the production of our home-grown timber; and whether the producers and users of homegrown timber will have equal representation with timber merchants on the delegation going to Ottawa?
§ Mr. BALDWINAs regards the first part of the question, the interests to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers will certainly be kept in mind. As re- 2012 gards the second part, it is, I think, for the producers and users of home-grown timber to decide themselves, in consultation with the Industrial Advisers who will accompany the United Kingdom delegation, whether they should be specially represented at Ottawa.
Brigadier-General BROWNDoes my right hon. Friend realise that the representatives of the timber merchants who are going over are largely interested in the Russian and Scandinavian trade and that their interests must be antagonistic to Dominion and Home trade, and that the Forestry Commissioners wish to put their point of view on behalf of British producers and British users of homegrown timber?
§ Mr. BALDWINYes, sir, that is the case I believe, and it is all the more reason why those who are directly interested in the home timber trade and the forms of timber referred to in the question should take the steps which I suggest.