§ Major-General Sir NEWTON MOOREasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if a large contract has been placed for soft wood railway sleepers; and, if so, whether shipping will be made available equally for Australian timbers; (2) whether, in view of the suitability of Australian hardwoods, especially jarrah and karri, for railway sleepers and their proved durability, the Government will give preference to these timbers in connection with any relaying proposals under consideration?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI will reply to this and the next question together. Before the control of timber was removed advantageous contracts for soft wood sleepers and other timber were placed in localities from which there was a good prospect of sufficient tonnage being available. The Board are not in a position to make tonnage available either for Australia or elsewhere, but railway companies are understood to have stocks of timber in Australia awaiting shipment. The sleeper specifica- 1255W tion is drawn up by the railways, but if sleepers of Australian hardwoods could be. offered on c.i.f. terms which would compete as to quality and price with those from other sources such as British Columbia, I have no doubt the railway companies would be pleased to consider them on their merits.