§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the Report of a Commissioner despatched to Germany by The Hardwareman, and published in the issue of that journal of 3rd March, to inquire into prison work and the exportation to England of prison-made hardware, hosiery, brushes, lithographic and other printing, whips, joinery, and other articles, many stamped as "perfection," "reliable," and other British words, with a view of misleading the English purchaser; and if Her Majesty's Government will cause immediate steps to be taken to put a stop to such competition with British workmen and workwomen, having regard to the successful protests made by Trade Unions and other Industrial Organisations against the competition of prison labour at home?
§ MR. BRUNNER (Cheshire, Northwich)Before the question is answered I should like to ask you, Mr. Speaker, if the words "with a view of misleading the English purchaser" are in Order?
§ * MR. SPEAKERI cannot see with what object the words are used, unless it is to mislead.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. MUNDELLA,) Sheffield, BrightsideYes, Sir; since the hon. and gallant Member put down his Question I have seen the statements referred to. There is no power to prevent the importation of such goods unless they contravene the provisions of the Merchandise Marks Act, and on this point I am making further inquiry. They might be exported to the United States without being subjected to this risk.
§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTWill the Government use their influence with the German Government to secure that these goods shall be marked as prison made?
§ * MR. MUNDELLAI do not think we could get the Germans to do it; I 1104 doubt whether we do it in our own prisons. We import carpets from India; some are made in prison and some are not; it is impossible to discriminate between them.