§ MR. TENNANTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of Fullers v. Squire, 1901, 2 K.B. 209, 70 L.J.K.B. 689, in which it was held that the process of packing sweetmeats in cardboard boxes is within the words adapting for sale, section 149 (1), 1 Edw. 7, chap. 22; and whether he adheres to his intention of taking no proceedings against the General Electrical Company for failure to register as a workshop premises in which parts of electric lampholders were being put together.
§ MR. RITCHIEYes, sir; the case quoted was fully in my mind when I was considering the question whether the premises of the General Electrical Company at 67 Queen Victoria Street was a workshop. I would observe that in that case the process carried on was not mere packing, and the judgment of the Lord Chief Justice sets out clearly the details of the process which led to his decision that the premises in question could be held to be a workshop. As the hon. Member will recognise, the line in such matters is necessarily a narrow one. The sweetmeat case fell on one side of it, but I adhere to my opinion that the putting together of the parts of electric-lamp holders falls on the other, and I am not prepared to take proceedings against the Company.
§ MR. TENNANTHas the right hon. Gentleman consulted the law officers of the Crown on the subject?
§ MR. RITCHIENo, Sir; but I have consulted the officials connected with the Factory Department.