§ MR. A. M. BROOKFIELDOn behalf of the hon. Member for the Central Division of Sheffield (Colonel HOWARD VINCENT), I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture how many prosecutions have been undertaken by the Board of Agriculture under the Merchandise Marks Prosecutions Act, 1894, in respect of the false marking of agricultural or horticultural produce; and in how many were convictions obtained?
§ *MR. HERBERT GARDNERNo prosecutions have as yet been undertaken by the Board of Agriculture under the Act of last Session; and although I have taken steps to bring the provisions of that Act under the notice of those concerned, no representations have reached me upon the basis of which such prosecutions could with advantage have been instituted.
§ *COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade how many offences against the Merchandise Marks Act have been proceeded against since 1st January 1894; and in how many was a conviction obtained?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. J. BRYCE,) Aberdeen, S.Ten summonses in all have been issued under this Act, and on all of these convictions have been obtained. Other cases were also submitted to the Solicitor 269 for his opinion as to proceedings, but as to some he advised that they did not come within the Acts, and in other cases there was not evidence to secure a conviction.