64 TIMBER SUPPLIES AND FAMINE PRICES 



have been made which would have resulted in the 

 saving of large sums of money to this country. We 

 should not have had to pay in cash, in gold, for this 

 Russian timber. It could have been set against the 

 equipment, shells, etc., which Russia has received from 

 the Allies and the matter would have been subsequently 

 adjusted. Instead we have preferred to pay out gold 

 into the pockets of neutrals. And yet we are urgently 

 called upon by the Government to restrict all imports 1 

 Presumably imports from neutrals chiefly. 



The timber industry has proved a necessary part of 

 the provision required for the furtherance of the war. 

 The problem, commencing with the mines, has been 

 acute from the start. It is still more acute to-day, 

 and in order to guarantee supplies and to put an end 

 to the hand-to-mouth policy, it has become essential, 

 if we are to stop the present appalling extravagance 

 in the nation's timber bill, to face this urgent problem 

 and make arrangements which will increase our timber 

 supplies in the future. This problem is considered in 

 the next article. 



(3) Prices. — Prices since the commencement of the 

 war have been entirely influenced by the action or 

 want of action on the part of the Allies in this timber 

 matter. It is imperative that the ridiculous prices now 

 being paid by our Government and by ourselves (for 

 the public has been hit badly in this matter, as the 

 family household knows), for our essential requirements 

 in timber, should cease at as early a date as possible. 



The following table shows the present rates being 

 paid for home timber materials as compared with pre- 

 war prices. The table was prepared in February 1916 : 



