§ 44. Mr. HURDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether the certificate of honour issued to exhibitors at the British Empire Exhibition is made of British or British Empire material, in accordance with the general undertaking of the management committee; and if not, why not?
Mr. SAMUELI am informed by the British Empire Exhibition authorities that the contract for the printing of the Certificates of Honour issued to 1924 exhibitors was given to a well-known British firm on the definite understanding that all materials used should be of British Empire origin. The sample of paper submitted by the printers, and approved, was of British manufacture, but, through a mistake on the part of the printers, and admitted by them, foreign-made paper was used for some of the certificates. The Exhibition authorities are withdrawing the certificates that were issued on foreign paper, and the printers will reprint the certificates on British paper at their own expense.
Mr. SAMUELIt is human to err. It was an innocent mistake—it was not intentional—and I hope such a thing will not occur again.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWould anyone have been any the wiser about this—or any the worse—had it not been raised by hon. Members opposite?
Mr. SAMUELIt was the spirit of the exhibition that all these things should be of British manufacture wherever possible, and this was against the spirit of the whole scheme.