§ 17. Mr. HARRISasked the President of the Board of Trade what body or organisation has made application to him for the making of an Order in Council under the Merchandise Marks Act that its provisions should be applied to imported gold and silver leaf; and whether he can state what are the annual imports of this article for the last year for which statistics are available?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe application was made by the British Master Gold Beaters' Federation, the Gold Beaters' Trade Society and the Women's Gold Leaf Society. The imports of gold leaf in 1926 amounted approximately to 76,700,000 leaves, valued at £193,000. Silver leaf is not separately distinguished on importation, but the total value of all sorts of metal leaf, other than gold, was less than £5,000.
§ Mr. HARRISDo these organisations represent any important substantial number of people?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERYes, Sir. They represent on the part of the employers and the operatives, I am informed, practically the whole trade.