§ Major Beamishasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in order to avoid unemployment, he will alter his decision to withhold timber licences for the construction of boats intended for purposes of pleasure or recreation to the extent of making sufficient timber available for each firm to build at least two vessels during the next few months.
§ Mr. W. EdwardsI regret that I cannot, in present circumstances, alter this decision, which was reached only after full consideration of all the facts. The relaxation suggested would reduce the supplies of timber available for the construction of ships and other craft for our own commercial needs and for export—supplies which are already very seriously inadequate. As is no doubt realised, the restriction does not apply to the construction of pleasure craft for export, or to the repair of pleasure craft. The position will be carefully watched, in order that opportunity may be taken of the earliest372W indication of sufficiently improved conditions to give renewed consideration to the whole matter, but it would be wrong to hold out any hope that this will be possible in the near future.