PIT PROPS AND PITWOOD 



189 



price per load from £18 '6 to £19 i. From " Other 

 Countries" in this group there was a considerable 

 increase during the first three months of the war, 

 followed by a drop in each of the subsequent months. 

 The quantities for the war period more than doubled — 

 15,000 to 33,000 loads, valued respectively at £194,000 

 and £261,000, a most satisfactory item to the credit 

 of the account. 



Group II., Pit Props and Pitwood, has been already 

 dealt with, each month showing a decrease, as is 

 indicated by the following figures for the periods : 



II. PIT PROPS AND PITWOOD. 



There was a slight increase in price per load (from 

 £i'36 to £i'54). In view of the fact that our chief 

 supplies of pit materials come from Russia, who sent us 

 £2,400,000 worth during the year 1913, and from France 

 (£830,000 in 1913), it is to the good that suppHes haye 

 been as well maintained as the above figures indicate. 



The third group consists of sawn or spUt, planed or 

 dressed timber, including sleepers, which the Board of 



