HC Deb 03 May 1939 vol 346 cc1860-1
35. Mr. Day

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the quantity of boat-oars manufactured from American ash and purchased from the United States of America, for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date, together with possible to find a British timber suitable the cost of same; and whether it is for this purpose in order that these oars could be made in His Majesty's dockyards.

The Civil Lord of the Admiralty (Colonel Llewellin)

Orders for 6,773 American ash oars to the value of £13,292 10s. 7d. were placed during the 12 months ending 31st March, 1939. These orders are invariably placed in the United Kingdom with British importers. With regard to the second part of the question, I am afraid it is not.

Mr. Day

Do we understand that it is impossible to obtain ash within the Empire from which these oars can be made?

Colonel Llewellin

We have made very careful investigations, and have tried all the ash in this country, but it is unsuitable. We have also tried Dominion ash, and we are having further trials made with some ash from Australia, which we hope may give us what we want. Certainly, if we could buy British, we would.

Mr. Day

Has the ash from Ireland been tried?

Colonel Llewellin

That is a part of the British Empire.

Mr. Thorne

Can the Civil Lord give the reason for the difference in the ash from America, Canada and Australia, seeing that they grow in practically the same atmosphere?

Colonel Llewellin

Of all the different types of ash, the American ash is the most suitable and serviceable for the work we want.

Mr. T. Smith

Have inquiries been made in Western Australia?

Colonel Llewellin

We are trying, as I said in answer to the first supplementary question, further ash from Australia.

Mr. Keeling

Can my hon. and gallant Friend say why the number of oars purchased is an uneven number?

Colonel Llewellin

I believe that some boats in the Royal Navy have not an equal number of oars on each side. Some that I have noticed have seven rather than eight.