§ Mr. FLAVINasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that quantities of timber are being cut down in Kerry and other counties in Ireland and being shipped to Wales to be used as pit props; whether he is aware that there are millions of trees growing in Wales, especially around Bala and Ruabon, which are most suitable for pit props; and whether, in view of the scarcity and high price of coal in many parts of Ireland, he will consider the desirability of having this Irish timber, if it has to be cut down, sold as firewood to the poor, who in many places cannot get, owing to scarcity, and cannot purchase, owing to high price, coal during the coming winter?
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§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe Department are aware that timber has been sold and shipped to Wales for pit props. The export for this purpose is not at present greatly in excess of the average of recent years. The Department have no specific information as to the state of the timber supply in Wales. In regard to plantations in Ireland, the Department have no power to act as suggested. In view of the present scarcity of timber for war and other purposes, the Department would not be prepared to recommend that any commercial timber should be used for firewood.