COLONEL HILLOn behalf of the hon. Member for the Kirkdale Division of Liverpool, I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that early in the year a small amount of cement was landed from the ss. Edenmore in the docks of Liverpool to be re-shipped in the same Company's ss. Kilmore, for Kunstendjie; that this cement was found not to be properly labelled under the Merchandise Marks Act, and has been confiscated by the Customs Authorities, although it was only on the quay for transhipment, and although everything was done and promised to be done to remedy the unintentional defects in the marking; and whether he will cause this case to be inquired into and due restitution made?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTTwo hundred and forty-three barrels of cement were imported at Liverpool ex Edenmore, from Antwerp, on the 7th of March last, and were entered on the usual Free Entry. The barrels were labelled "Portland Cement, First Quality," without any qualifying words indicative of the country of production. The importation, therefore, was in direct contravention of the provisions of Section 18 of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887, and the goods were accordingly seized by the Board of Customs, who have declined to release them. Goods in transit are liable to the same restrictions under the Merchandise Marks Act, and the Regulations made to give effect thereto, as goods imported for home use in the United Kingdom.