§ MR. SLAGGasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether it is a fact that watch cases of gold or silver with metal domes are not permitted, under the Hall-marking Laws, to be manufactured in the United Kingdom, but that watches of Foreign manufacture, in cases of gold or silver with metal domes, are largely imported into this Country; whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to give 652 early effect to the recommendation of the Select Committee on Hall-marking (1878–9) that "a dome made of base metal should not exclude a watch case from being hall marked;" and, whether he can hold out any hope that the question of hall-marking generally will be considered in his Department during the present Parliament; and, if not, whether he will amend the Law re lating to the hall-marking of watch cases?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINThe hon. Member correctly describes the existing state of things, which it would be desirable to remedy whenever practicable. In the present state of Public Business, I am afraid I cannot hold out much hope of legislation during the present Session either on the question of Hallmarking generally or of Hall-marking of watch cases.