§ 24. Vice-Admiral TAYLORasked the President of the Board of Trade what reply has been given to the communication received from the Canadian Government asking that the imports of Russian timber to this country in 1935 should be restricted to a figure below that permitted for 1934?
§ 25. Captain PETER MACDONALDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the contract made by Timber Distributors, Limited, with the Russian Government for 400,000 standards of timber, which contains a fall clause allowing a reduction of 22s. 6d. per standard in prices, is an infringement of Clause 21 of the Ottawa agreements, both as regards quantity and price; and whether he will withhold his approval from this contract?
§ 30. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any protest has been made to the British Government by the Canadian Government with regard to the importation into 169 Great Britain of Russian timber under a fall clause and at prices with which it is impossible for Canada to compete, seeing that this is in contravention of Article 21 of the Ottawa Agreement?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am not yet in a position to add to the reply which was given on the 11th February to the hon. Member for Maidstone (Mr. Bossom).
§ Vice-Admiral TAYLORCan the right hon. Gentleman state when a reply will be given in view of the immense importance to Canada to know whether the imports from Russia will be less than those of last year?
§ Sir W. DAVISONCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Canadian Government have protested that Article 21 of the Ottawa Agreement is being nullified by this importation; and does he recognise that it must be so with the fall clause which gives Russia the opportunity of reducing prices by approximately 10 per cent. below the lowest tender of anyone else?
Earl of DALKEITHDoes my right hon. Friend favour the use of home-grown timber; and do the Board of Trade encourage people to increase employment by growing timber at home?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANWith reference to the question put by my hon. Friend behind, I am afraid that I cannot add to the information already given, but we have had no protest from the Canadian Government. May I answer the further question put with regard to the source of the particular timber? That is a general question with which I have not attempted to deal in my answer, but last year the contract was, I think, 350,000 standards, and the proposal that has been made this year is for a contract of 400,000 standards, and that is a matter we are taking into consideration.
§ Captain MACDONALDHave the Canadian and other authorities been consulted in the matter; and, if so, will sanction for the contracts be held up until replies have been received from them?
§ Brigadier-General NATIONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the Russian timber is cut to length and size suitable for building in this country, whereas the Canadian timber is not; and, in view of that fact, will he support this contract?
§ Vice-Admiral TAYLORIs it not a fact that what the hon. and gallant Gentleman has stated is not correct?
§ 29. Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the fall clause in the agreement for the import of Russian timber in 1934 was prohibited; and whether it will also be prohibited in 1935?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANAt the request of His Majesty's Government, the timber interests concerned arranged that the contract for the 1934 season for the importation of Russian sawn soft wood should not contain the fall clause. As has already been stated, questions raised by the contract for the 1935 season are receiving careful consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.
§ Sir A. KNOXHas it not since been announced in the Press that the fall clause was going to be prohibited in 1935?
§ Sir W. DAVISONCannot the President of the Board of Trade say that such a very scandalous clause will not be allowed, as it is not fair to anyone?
§ Vice-Admiral TAYLORIs it not a fact that this fall clause would completely do away with the operation of the Ottawa Agreement?
§ 28. Captain MACDONALD (for Lieut.-Colonel TODD)asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the quota of 350,000 standards of sawn soft wood from Soviet Russia was duly observed in the year 1934; or, if exceeded, what action was taken?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo quota was fixed for the importation of sawn soft wood from the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics in 1934. The contract between the White Sea Timber Trust and Timber Distributors, Limited, for 1934, provided for the importation of a maximum quantity of 350,000 standards of sawn soft wood. I understand that this quantity was exceeded by 4,595 standards or slightly more than 1 per cent. I do not propose to take any action in the matter.