§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick's)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that, according to Official Returns, 1,727,786 proof gallons of spirits were imported direct from Foreign Countries; whether, in the absence of definite information as to the uses in which this vast quantity of imported spirits is absorbed, he will, in the interests of taxpayers, institute an inquiry respecting the conversion of this foreign material into so-called native manufacture?
§ MR. BRYCEThe only ground for such an inquiry by the Board of Trade as is suggested by the hon. Member would be that there was an infringement of the Merchandise Marks Act. In the absence of any information to show that the Act is infringed, I do not see that there is ground for such an inquiry. The importation of foreign spirits so far as concerns taxes is not a matter for the Board of Trade.