§ Mr. Mathersasked the Minister of Supply what considerations have led to 899W the fixing of prices of home-grown pit-wood so far above those quoted for foreign supplies; and, in view of this inducement to raise prices unnecessarily to the detriment of the coalmining industry, he will cause the whole position to be reviewed?
§ Mr. BurginThe prices of imported pit-wood are, normally, considerably lower than the prices at which home-grown pit-wood could be sold economically and, in consequence, home-grown supplies were small in relation to requirements. It is now necessary to develop them. The scheduled prices of home-grown pit wood represent, in the view of my expert advisers, a fair return to producers under present conditions, while prices for imported pit-wood are those current at the outbreak of the present emergency and are thus based on pre-war costs. In due course additional costs, due to war conditions, will necessitate an increase in the prices of the imported wood, whereas it is hoped that prices of home-grown pit-wood will not require to be increased materially.