§ MR. CHARLES WILSON (Hull W.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether he will have an Inquiry held into the result of the working of the Merchandise Marks Acts as affecting British trade and shipping, and the ad- 1702 vertisement it gives to foreign goods, resulting to some extent in the shipping trade of Hamburg already taking precedence over Liverpool?
§ MR. RITCHIEMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I think the matter is one calling for inquiry, and I will consider during the Recess whether it should be by a Committee of the House or otherwise. I must not, however, be understood as expressing any opinion on the cause of the increase of the shipping trade at Hamburg.