Timber Diseases (Treatment)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 17 December 1958.

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Photo of Mr John Rodgers Mr John Rodgers , Sevenoaks 12:00, 17 December 1958

Good. The last point which the hon. Member made was about the possibility of setting up a new professional body. I thought that he was suggesting that consultants on timber diseases should form themselves into an independent body available to give informed advice in the same way as, say, doctors or lawyers, distinguishing between diagnosis and treatment. This may be an excellent idea. If it is, no doubt people outside the House will pick it up and see whether they can make something of it. I cannot, however, promise that this of itself will remove all the ills that are worrying the hon. Member. In any case the move for it must come from timber consultants themselves and not from the Board of Trade.

To summarise: there is statutory protection to deal with fraud, and there are the Merchandise Marks Acts. There is the help and guidance from which some of the churches may be able to benefit. There is the information available in Government publications. Owners can often help themselves by becoming better informed about these matters, and by seeking a second opinion. And there is the help which can be obtained from the Timber Development Association.