§ MR. FFRENCH (Wexford, S.)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a London magistrate imposed a heavy fine on a French firm convicted of selling a foreign article for Irish lace; if it was the Irish Industrial Development Association that instituted proceedings; and will he say if the Board of Trade can do anything in matters of this kind for the protection of Irish industries.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The reply to the first two Questions asked by my hon. friend is in the affirmative. Under the Merchandise Marks Acts the 484 Board of Trade have power to undertake the prosecution of offences against those Acts in cases appearing to them to affect the general interests of the country or of a section of the community or of a trade, and they are always prepared to consider with a view to prosecution, if the circumstances should warrant it, any cases submitted to them in accordance with the prescribed regulations.