§ 28. Mr. Frank Byersasked the President of the Board of Trade what efforts are being made to increase the imports of timber into this country, especially softwoods; and what general increase in such imports he anticipates being able to achieve over the next six months.
§ Mr. MarquandWe are in close and continuous contact with all overseas sources of timber supplies, and are taking every step possible to increase imports. Our imports of softwood are, however, always low during the first six months of the year, as many of the ports of shipment are closed by ice and the scope for expansion during that period is, therefore, correspondingly limited.
§ Mr. ByersDoes that mean that there will be a general increase, even if it is only a small one, in the imports of timber during the next six months?
§ Mr. MarquandWe hope so. We never refuse offers of timber abroad, and we go out in search for timber wherever we can. It is one of the imports which we most urgently need and for which we look most zealously.
§ Mr. Wilson HarrisIs the Minister aware that there is a great shortage of timber in Germany, both for export and for home consumption, because such large quantities have been used to pack machinery for reparations to Allied countries, and could he make representations about that matter?