§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S. W.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that match-boxes manufactured abroad and imported into this country, bearing no mark of origin, are then filled with matches and labelled with the name of a firm of manufacturers in the East End of London, preceded by the words "manufactured by"; whether he is advised that this practice is a violation of the Merchandise Marks Act; and, if so, will he take steps to stop the practice.
§ MR. KEARLEYThe question whether the practice complained of is a violation of the Merchandise Marks Act depends upon whether in the particular case a false trade description has been applied to the box. If a complaint is lodged with the Board of Trade in accordance with the regulations framed by the Department, a copy of which I have caused to be furnished to my hon. friend, it will be carefully considered with a view to prosecution if the circumstances disclosed and evidence are such as to justify such a course.
MR. KEIR HAKDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)If the law does not meet the case, will the Board of Trade undertake to amend it?
§ MR. KEARLEYasked for notice of the Question.