Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 26 Mar 1947

Vol. 105 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imports of Timber.

Mr. M. O'Sullivan

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state: (a) the total quantity of timber imported in 1946, distinguishing between timber earmarked for housing purposes and for other purposes; and (b) the quantity, distinguished in the same way, imported in each of the months January and February, 1947; further, whether he will state (i) the country of origin of such timber, and (ii) the country from which purchased.

Mr. Lemass

A statement showing quantities of timber imported in the year 1946, according to country of origin and official import list descriptions will be circulated with the Official Report. It is not possible to give total figures owing to the different units of quantity used. No information is available from the trade statistics as to the countries from which the timber was purchased. The great bulk of the softwoods has been earmarked for building purposes.

Particulars for the months of January and February, 1947, are not yet available.

QUANTITIES OF WOOD AND TIMBER (RAW OR SIMPLY PREPARED) IMPORTED DURING THE YEAR 1946, BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.

Description and Country of Origin	Unit of Quantity	Quantity
Hewn wood and timber:
Hard (mahogany, oak etc.)—
Portugal	cub. ft.	6,925
Canada	,,	4,059
U.S.A.	,,	8,310
Total		19,330
Soft (fir, pine, spruce, etc.):
Finland	load	734
Canada	,,	3,046
U.S.A.	,,	2,448
Total	,,	6,228
Sawn wood and timber:
Hard (mahogany, oak, etc.)—
Great Britain	cub. ft.	426
Finland	,,	7,588
Portugal	,,	3,240
Africa, British East	,,	92
,,,,West	,,	578
,,Portuguese East	,,	11
Canada	,,	87,756
Peru	,,	9
U.S.A.	,,	100,374
Total	,,	200,074
Soft (fir, pine, spruce, etc.):
Boards and Planks, not exceeding 1 inch in minimum thickness—
BrazilTotal	load	20
Deals, Planks and Boards not elsewhere specified or included:
Great Britain	,,	33
Northern Ireland	,,	3
Portugal	,,	1
Sweden	,,	4,677
Canada	,,	20,593
U.S.A.	,,	247
Total	,,	25,554
Other sorts, sawn, soft:
Great Britain	load	50
Northern Ireland	,,	1
Finland	,,	60
Canada	,,	555
Total	,,	666
Planed or Dressed Wood:
Floorings—
Great Britain	,,	142
Northern Ireland	,,	2
Sweden	,,	868
Africa, British East	,,	89
Total	,,	1,101
Planed or Dressed Wood:
Other Sorts—
Great Britain	load	111
Northern Ireland	,,	3
Sweden	,,	51
Africa, British East	,,	3
Canada	,,	3
Total	,,	171
Other Wood and Timber Simply Prepared:
Sleepers—
Great Britain	,,	341
Northern Ireland	,,	172
Finland	,,	23
Canada	,,	1,364
U.S.A.	,,	11
Total	,,	1,911
Staves for Butter Casks, Kegs and Barrels:
Canada Total	,,	125
Staves, other sorts:
Canada	,,	32
U.S.A.	,,	344
Total	,,	376
Panel Wood (not Veneered):
Great Britain Total	sq. ft.	17,210
Veneered Wood:
Great Britain Total	,,	365
Veneers, liable to duty:
Great Britain	,,	1,625
France	,,	10,760
Total	,,	12,385
Veneers not liable to duty:
Great Britain	,,	29,925
France	,,	1,268,573
Portugal	,,	99,541
Honduras, British	Sq. ft.	11,960
U.S.A.	,,	356,154
Total	,,	1,766,153
Other sorts, not elsewhere specified or included:
Great Britain	load	446
Northern Ireland	,,	3
Sweden	,,	51
Canada	,,	110
U.S.A.	,,	74
Total	,,	684