asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware that the British f.o.b. price for pit wood is approximately £3 to £3 10s. per ton, and that the price as fixed to producers here works out at less than £1 per ton leaving an excessive profit to exporters; and if he will state what steps he proposes to take to ensure that producers of pit wood for export will in future get a more equitable share of the price secured.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Exported Pit Wood.
I am aware that the present prices ruling for pit wood f.a.s. at a British port are approximately £3 2s. per ton for fir pit wood and £3 8s. for larch pit wood. These prices have to cover the cost of standing timber in the wood at approximately £1 per ton and other items of cost, such as felling, cross-cutting, extraction from wood, haulage to station, rail or canal freight to Irish port, discharging and piling at docks, loading on steamer, and freight and insurance to a British port. Having regard to the costs incurred by the exporters of pit wood, I do not consider that these exporters have any undue profits on this commodity and I do not propose, therefore, to take any steps to increase the price of standing timber suitable for conversion into pit wood.
Is the Minister suggesting that the handling charges on timber for export are 200 per cent. more than its value as standing timber?
I do not know what the Deputy means by handling charges.
Handling and freight, charges.
It includes the cost of cutting and converting into pit wood.
Mr. Larkin
Can the Minister not give the freight charges and the handling charges on either side?
It would not be possible.
Mr. Larkin
Surely, that is a common-sense question?
I suggest it is anything but a commonsense question. Obviously, the cost and the charges vary according to the location of the timber and the port to which it is delivered.
Mr. Larkin
What port is the present figure based on?
On the face of it, it is excessive—£2 as against £1.
I do not think so.