§ MR. BROOKFIELD (Sussex, Rye)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the case that "The 1164 Merchandise Marks Act, 1887," does not in, any way affect the importation into this country of frozen meat, which may afterwards be passed off as being of home production; and whether Her Majesty's Government is disposed to consent to an inquiry into the question of how far the main principle and operation of "The Merchandise Marks Act, 1887," may be usefully amplified or extended?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.As I stated on a former occasion, I am not in a position to give an authoritative opinion upon the construction of an Act of Parliament, but it appears to me that if a butcher knowingly sold imported frozen meat as English meat he might make himself liable to a prosecution under the Merchandise Marks Act, and probably would under Section 6 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1875. I am not prepared to acquiesce in an inquiry of wider scope than is contemplated by the Motion in reference to the Merchandise Marks Act, of which notice has been given by the hon. Member for Central Sheffield.