§ MR. KETTLE (Tyrone, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of Mr. Stewart in the Liverpool Summons Court, in the prosecution under The Merchandise Marks Act, instituted at the instance of the Treasury, against Sir Thomas Cleeve and Mr. A. A. Cleeve, and heard on Wednesday 22nd instant; whether he is aware that it was admitted that the defendants were selling foreign produce under a name calculated to lead the public to believe that it was Irish, and that the magistrate declined to convict; and whether, in view of the injury likely to result to sellers of Irish farm produce, he proposes to take any further action in the matter.
§ THE TREASURER OF THE HOUSEHOLD (Sir EDWARD STRACHEY, Somersetshire, S.)My hon. friend has asked me to reply to this Question. The proceedings referred to were instituted at the instance of the Board of Agriculture, who propose forthwith to confer with the Irish Department as to the steps to be taken in the position which has arisen. The Board are not aware that the defendants made the admission cited in the Question.