§ 18 and 19. Mr. T. Smithasked the Secretary for Mines (1) what percentage of pit-props now being used for lining permanent roadways in damp coalmines is receiving any form of preservative treatment; and whether, in view of the rapid decay which occurs in such mines with the type of timber now available and the need for conserving pit-wood, he will consider insisting on some tested preservative treatment being applied before such timber is used underground;
(2) whether he is satisfied with the extremely low cost of preservative treatment of pit-timber claimed in the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Records, No. 3; and whether, in view of the conclusions reached that this treatment improves and increases the life of the timber, he proposes to call the attention of the mining industry by circular or otherwise to the process?
§ Mr. GrenfellUnder present circumstances the preservative treatment of mine timber is a question of supply rather than of safety and is one which does not affect the mines only. Owing to the increasing use of steel arches on the main roads, less timber is being used for supporting such roads, and it is mainly on such roads that preserved timber is needed. No accurate figures are avail- 754 able as to the percentage of timber that receives preservative treatment, but it is of the order of 2 per cent. of the quantity used in mines. I am in consultation with the Timber Controller on the matter which raises wider issues than mining.
§ Mr. SmithDoes my hon. Friend or his Department accept the conclusions reached by the Research Board, which have been public property for five years? Has the Safety in Mines Research Board taken this question into account?
§ Mr. GrenfellIt is largely a question of providing timber for immediate safety purposes. It is well known that certain timbers in certain areas require treatment and that they are receiving it.