§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the statement in The Sheffield Telegraph, on Saturday last, that unstamped German knives are being extensively 26 sold in this country at a profit of some 200 per cent. from cards bearing English wording, and inducing purchasers to believe that the cutlery is Sheffield made; and if, having regard to the confirmation of this fraud by the Report of the Commissioners of Customs in 1889, and by much of the evidence before the Select Committee on Merchandise Marks in 1890, he will take steps on behalf of Her Majesty's Government to secure the better identification of foreign-made goods?
§ MR. MUNDELLAIf the case is as stated by the hon. Member, proceedings might be taken under the Merchandise Marks Act. The Select Committee to which the hon. Member refers reported against the compulsory marking of all goods with an indication of origin, and the Board of Trade have always held that the provisions of the law as to false marking are adequate, and that no further steps are necessary to secure the better identification of foreign-made goods.