CONFERENCE ON HOME-GROWN TIMBER. 49 



of this kind — I think in Aberdeen — where all advance comes 

 from. That is the combination of the granite merchants. They 

 have an association for trade through which all their members 

 are supplied to their mutual advantage, and that, I think, is 

 what you want to do. You cannot expect one enterprising man 

 to start on the scale which is necessary, and you must look 

 ahead. I think the only way to develop the home timber trade 

 is by looking ahead and taking a broad view. I just submit 

 this suggestion for the consideration of the meeting and possibly 

 afterwards for a committee, if you should care to appoint one." 



Mr Fraser (Landowners' Co-operative Forestry Society) said : — 

 " I think it is now up to the timber merchants to oust the 

 foreigner. I would ask architects and consumers to be a little 

 indulgent. I am sure the timber merchants are only too keen 

 to get their share of the trade that has been going to the 

 foreigner in the past. I think the specification of foreign timber 

 might be utilised for home timber. There must be some sizes 

 now which we could start on instead of waiting for specifications 

 and tests. I know we are selling stuff which competes with 

 imported timber." 



Colonel Sutherland said : — " I do not think we should go into 

 this matter with the intention of ousting the foreigner. We 

 cannot supply ourselves without the foreign trade. We must go 

 on for a generation probably before we can hope appreciably 

 to supplement our supplies, and I do hope the foreign timber 

 merchant will thoroughly understand that it is not to keep him 

 out but to endeavour, as far as possible, to make use of an asset 

 we have in this country." 



Sir John Stirling-Maxwell said : — " If anyone has the impression 

 on his mind that there should be room for the misunderstanding 

 that Mr Sutherland speaks of, there is some mistake. The 

 intention on my part at all events was to try to show that we 

 were confronted with a shortage of timber which is not very far 

 off, and the difficulty of transport makes it necessary that users 

 of timber, who have mills, should make some effort to supple- 

 ment the foreign supplies. The use of home-grown timber offers 

 a means of doing that, and one hoped that there might be an 

 opportunity now of diverting the better home wood into other 

 channels." 



Mr Mackenzie said: — "In regard to softwood, I speak as a 

 contractor. A lot of gentlemen to-day have referred to the 



VOL. XXXIV. PART I. D 



