HC Deb 20 June 1890 vol 345 cc1477-8
MR. QUILTER (Suffolk, Sudbury)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a large quantity of American piracies of British copyright publications of engravings and etchings are being imported into this country, with the cognisance of Her Majesty's Customs, without any steps being taken to seize the same for their infringement of the Merchandise Marks Act, inasmuch as they bear no imprint showing where they were printed, in accordance with that Act; and whether steps will be taken to put a stop to a trade which is highly injurious to the-interests of British Art?

THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON,) Leeds, N.

The Merchandise Marks Act does not require a statement of origin. The Commissioners, of Customs inform me that they have no-knowledge of the circumstances mentioned in the question, but will be glad to make inquiry if specific information is laid before them.