§ 15. Mr. Toucheasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that large quantities of first-class flooring timber are being sold to natives in the Gold Coast for firewood, as the Timber Control do not buy timber of small dimensions; and if he will allow British buyers to purchase such timber with a view to processing and selling it for export to hard currency countries.
§ Mr. H. WilsonThe Timber Control are well aware of the possibilities of procuring additional supplies of timber in small dimensions. It is not the case that they do not buy such timber, but in the Gold Coast the problem is to ensure, in the first place, maximum shipments to this country and to the United States of the larger dimensions. A representative of Timber Control recently visited the area, and we are now going into the question of obtaining the smaller cuts, provided it does not affect the supply of the larger sizes. I do not expect, however, that any appreciable amount will become available until machinery suitable for its production can be installed.