asked the Postmaster-General what were the total purchases by his Department in 1949 of home-grown telegraph poles, imported poles and poles of other material than timber; and what determines the choice of each.

In 1949 the Post Office bought 23,400 home-grown and 188,400 imported, timber poles—first preference being given to home-grown poles of the requisite quality. In addition, there were 32,800 metal poles in completion of an order placed in 1947 when timber supplies were precarious.