§ MR. M'CARTAN) (Down, S.I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to "The Merchandise Marks Act, 1887,"whether his attention has been called to the reports of the proceedings at a meeting of the Provisions Curers' Association of Ulster, held at Belfast on the 25th July, when it was resolved that—
Special legislation is needed to protect the Irish lard trade, 'which has been practically undermined by the system of shipping 'American lard refined in Belfast,' branded as 'Pure bladdered lard, Belfast,'and also that, for the efficient working of the above Act as a protection to the public—It is essential to appoint a Public Prosecutor and Inspectors to carry out its provisions;and whether, considering the very influential and representative character of the meeting referred to, and the importance to the public in being supplied with lard in its pure state when they ask for it under that name, he will consider what steps can be taken in the direction pointed out by the resolutions adopted at said meeting?
§ MR. MADDENI have been informed that no such resolution has been received as that mentioned in the first paragraph of the question. I will, however, make inquiries into the matter.