§ MR. GOURLEYI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the mode in which the Act for the stamping of glass measures is being conducted by the Northumberland County Council, whereby manufacturers are themselves permitted to stamp the measures, receiving, out of a total sum of £1,632 2s. 4d., £595 5s. 2d. for the use of their stamping machinery and labour, whilst an application by the Sunderland County Borough Council for a similar privilege 1708 on behalf of the manufacturers of glass measures, in the Comity of Durham, has been refused, thus causing a serious pecuniary loss to the Sunderland manufacturers; and will lie state what steps the Board of Trade intend adopting for the immediate enforcement of Section 13 of "The Weights and Measures Act, 1889"?
§ MR. MUNDELLAYes, Sir; my attention has been called to the circumstances to which my hon. Friend refers. The Board of Trade are in communication upon the subject with the Northumberland County Council, to whom they have pointed out that the repayments referred to appear to be contrary to the provisions of Section 13 of "The Weights and Measures Act, 1889," and have suggested the discontinuance of the practice, which, as far as I am aware, is confined to Northumberland. The matter is still in negotiation with the County Council, but the Board have offered to approve or to make a General Regulation for the future guidance of the County Inspectors.