§ 26. Rear-Admiral SUETERasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that at the British Industries Fair a purchaser of what he thought was a British-made clock found, on reaching his home, that it was made in Switzerland; and whether he willtake steps to see that clocks of British manufacture are sold at the British Industries Fair and not those of foreign origin?
§ Lieut.-Colonel J. COLVILLE (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)Under the regulations governing participation in the British Industries Fair, all goods to be eligible for exhibition must have been manufatured or produced mainly within the British Empire, and in conformity with this condition, it may have been possible for a clock to be sold at the fair containing a movement of foreign manufacture. The general regulation governing the admissibility of goods for display at the fair as applied to watches and clocks was decided upon some years ago in consultation with the 1765 trade associations concerned. In view of developments in the United Kingdom clockmaking industry, it is now proposed to review the position in order to determine whether modification of the regulations is desirable.
§ Rear-Admiral SUETERIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that this clock was bought by Admiral Sir Lewis Clinton-Baker from the Riverside Manufacturing Company and that it had the words "Made in Switzerland" on the face of it?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEI shall be glad to have any further information which my hon. and gallant Friend can give me, but, as I have said, we are examining the general question with a view to considering whether any modifications of the regulations are desirable.
§ 27. Sir COOPER RAWSONasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he proposes to take any action with regard to the American device manufactured at Holyoke, Massachusetts, advertising a product of Detroit, United States of America, and exhibited on Stall B 102 at the British Industries Fair, with a view to keeping a closer check in future on foreign exhibits?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEMy hon. Friend will be glad to know that the specimen of paper which he sent me, obtained from Stand B 102 at the recent British Industries Fair, was not displayed there as the advertisement of the product of a foreign firm. One of the exhibits upon this stand was that of a British manufacturer of "dandy rolls" which are used for producing water marks in paper, and the specimen in question illustrates the use of the British firm's rolls by paper makers in the United States of America. A close check is kept to prevent infringement of the regulations of the fair in the manner suggested by my hon. Friend.