Mr. Vaneasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he will ensure that due prominence will be given at the Forestry Exhibition at Blackbushe to exhibits demonstrating forestry in England as a business, yielding a return on capital invested, and publicising the advice available from the Forestry Commission staff on improved management techniques and modern accountancy methods;
(2) whether he will ensure that due prominence at the Forestry Exhibition at Blackbushe will be given to exhibits encouraging the adoption by both foresters and timber merchants of modern methods of handling, converting and seasoning home-grown timber, so demonstrating to timber users its suitability for many purposes for which imported material costing foreign currency is often specified.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsThe whole exhibition is directed towards these purposes in general, and the specific subjects referred to will be illustrated as far as possible. Modern methods of handling and converting timber will be covered by the Forestry Commission's exhibit and by a number of machinery manufacturers' exhibits; an exhibit by the Timber Research and Development Association will illustrate the suitability of home-grown timber for house-building; and seasoning will be illustrated by the exhibit of the Forest Products Research Laboratory. This type of exhibition does not readily lend itself to demonstrating forestry as a business or to publicising the advice available on management and accountancy, but a number of Forestry Commission staff will be available to advise inquirers.