§ 94. Major HUNTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the use of the words "transport and trading" in the title of the Shell Transport and Trading Company; whether he has considered if it is a false trade description within the scope of the definitions given under Section 3 of the Merchandise Marks Act of 1887, inasmuch as it implies that that company, which is of British character, is carrying on the business of transport and trading in the products of the Royal Dutch group of companies, whereas the business in question is, in fact, under the control of a foreign company; and, if so, whether some action will be taken in the matter in order that this British cloak to a foreign-controlled concern may be removed?
Mr. HARCOURTI am not aware of any ground for the suggestion in the question, and I see no reason for any action in the matter.
§ 95. Major HUNTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Shell Transport and Trading Company and the Bataafsche Company (through its subsidiary company the Consolidated Company) between them hold 40,374,000 lei out of a total issue capital of 60,000,000 lei in the Astra Romana Company, or 67.23 per cent, of such capital; and whether he will ascertain the percentage 1868 of capital which was held by the Shell Transport and Trading Company and the Bataafsche Company and/or by nominees or subsidiary companies of either on the date when war was declared between Germany and Russia, the percentage, now held, and if there has been any change in the holding during the interval the date on which such change was made?
Mr. HARCOURTI must refer the hon. and gallant Member to the information given in my previous answers with regard to certain shareholdings in the Astra Romana Company. I am informed by the Shell Transport and Trading Company that there has been no change since the beginning of the War in the percentage of the Astra Romana Company's shares held by the Shell Company or any of their associated companies.