§ 12. Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has been able to arrange that foreign-made gun barrels shall be marked with a different and distinctive mark to that stamped on barrels of British manufacture?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)I have been in communication with the Proof House on this subject, and have ascertained that about 97 per cent. of the foreign barrels submitted to definitive proof in London and fully 80 per cent. of those submitted in Birmingham have been found to be engraved with the names of the foreign manufacturers and of the country of origin. In the case of only a comparatively small number therefore could the appearance of the British Crown or Lion rampant on the barrels mislead purchasers as to the country of origin of the barrels, and I do not at present see my way to introduce legislation setting up a different system of marks for British and foreign, barrels respectively.
§ Mr. PETOMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his reply refers to finished barrels, or to barrels still in a crude state, in which case they are still subject to some further course of manufacture?
§ Mr. BUXTONIn a very large majority of cases there could be no deception as the names of the manufacturers are marked on the barrels.
§ Mr. PETOWill the right hon. Gentleman consider that a very much larger number of barrels arrive in a crude state, and that therefore there can be no possible question of the names of the makers appearing on the barrels at all?
§ Mr. BUXTONIf the hon. Gentleman will give notice of the question, I will inquire further.