HC Deb 09 January 1894 vol 20 cc1141-2
SIR H. MAXWELL (Wigton)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to evidence, given before a Select Committee of the House of Lords, to show that it is a common practice among West End butchers to sell Foreign and Colonial beef as "best Scotch"; that of five pieces of beef purchased from butchers in Kensington, and described as "best Scotch," four were found to be American; that in a large firm in the West End of London, professing to sell only Scotch and English meat, only six sides of Scotch meat had been sold in the course of a year, the rest being American; and that it is the practice in Birkenhead to dress carcases from the River Plate in the Scotch fashion, and consign them to London as "best Aberdeen oxen"; and whether any means exist of checking, prohibiting, or punishing fraudulent trade, so hurtful to the interests of British agriculture; and, if not, whether the Board contemplate proposing legislation to that end?

MR. MUNDELLA

(who replied) said: Yes, Sir; I have seen the evidence referred to. If in any case it is proved that a person applies a false trade description to goods within the meaning of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887, he is liable to the penalties imposed by that Act. The expression "goods" is defined in that Act to mean anything which is the subject of trade.

SIR H. MAXWELL

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman is not in a position to inform the House whether the Board of Agriculture is taking any steps to check this trade?

MR. MUNDELLA

Any person can check the practice by prosecuting under the Act.

SIR H. MAXWELL

Seeing that according to the evidence it is an universal practice, are not the Department taking steps to ascertain if that, be so, and in the case of finding that it is so, to check the trade?

MR. STUART-WORTLEY (Sheffield, Hallam)

Have the Board of Trade statutory powers to institute these prosecutions?

MR. MUNDELLA

Yes, Sir; and where the parties interested are unable to prosecute, the Board do take proceedings if they consider such action in the public interest. But it is usual for the persons concerned to take the initiative.

MR. J. LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that in his judgment it is not, in the public interest the Department should take the initiative?

MR. MUNDELLA

No.

SIR H. MAXWELL

Who are the parties interested? Is it the whole body of breeders in this country?

MR. MUNDELLA

Any consumer can prosecute if an article is sold to him under a false description. The Merchandise Marks Act provides that.