§ Sir N. GRIFFITHSasked the President of the Board of Trade how much of the total area of the German Empire is covered by woods and forests; what was the quantity and value of the timber felled during the latest year for which the figures are available; and what proportion of the value and quantity of this timber was derived from territories likely to be detached from the German Empire under the terms of the Peace Treaty?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe area of the German Empire covered by woods and forests is a quarter of the whole land sur-surface. The average annual quantity if timber felled during ten years ending in 1911 was 545 million cubic feet of coniferous timber and 260 million cubic feet of hard woods. The average annual value was about £35,000,000. As regards the latter part of the question, I cannot anticipate the terms of the Peace Treaty.