§ 3. Mr. HARRISasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of applications he has received under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERSeven applications for the issue of marking Orders have been received up to the present. The hon. Member will recollect that before referring an application to the Committee the Board must, under the Act, be satisfied that it is substantially representative. Two applications have also been received under Section 1.
§ Mr. HARRISAre we to understand, then, after all the money that has been spent, that only seven firms have thought fit to take advantage of the provisions of the Act?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo, Sir, the hon. Member ought not to draw any such inference. Up to the moment seven applications have been received, but I have no reason to suppose that there will not be a considerable number of others.
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERWhat commodities are there in addition to eggs and oatmeal?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI was not including eggs and oatmeal in this. Applications have also been received in respect of woven labels; gold and silver leaf; cab tyre sheathed cable; crepe paper; briar pipes, bowls and stems; shaving brushes; shaving sets and mirrors. In regard to some of these we are inquiring whether the application is representative or not. From inquiries which have been received it would be quite erroneous to suppose that that is at all an end of the list of likely applicants.