§ Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will state the number of Government agents for the purchase of timber in Ireland and how many of these agents are timber merchants doing business in the locality for which they are appointed; if he will state on what principle these agents are paid and if it is to their interest to fix a low rate of value for the timber that they purchase; and if he has received any complaints that owners of demesnes have been subjected to undue pressure to induce them to provide more than a reasonable contribution of trees from their estates while other estates have not been asked to supply any timber?
§ Mr. FORSTERTimber has been purchased in Ireland by the staff of the Home Grown Timber Committee, consisting of eight officers under an officer of the Department of Agriculture. Five of these are salaried and three are paid on a fixed commission. I am not aware that it is to their interest to fix a low rate for timber purchased, and no complaints of the kind suggested have been received. In a few instances timber has been requisitioned, and in that case, the price is fixed by the Defence of the Realm (Losses) Royal Commission.