§ 21. Mr. Watkinsasked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is compulsory for manufactured goods imported from Japan to be marked with the name of the country of origin or whether the word "Foreign" is all that is necessary?
Mr. StanleyWhere an indication of origin is required under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, on goods imported from a foreign country, it can consist, at the option of the person applying the indication, either of the word "Foreign" or of a definite indication of the country in which the goods were manufactured or produced.
§ Mr. WatkinsIn view of the fact that there is in this country a very large number of people who want not to buy Japanese goods, can the right hon. Gentleman make some arrangement so that Japanese goods are clearly marked with the name of the country of origin?
Mr. StanleyIt is not a question of making arrangements. This is the law as it stands. The whole question of whether the law should provide for the definite indication of the country of origin or simply for the word "Foreign" was very fully discussed at the time of its passage not so long ago, and the conclusion come to was that the provisions of the existing Act were the best.
§ Mr. ThorneDoes the right hon. Gentleman not know what is going on in London and other ports of the country, about the effort to boycott goods from Japan, and that people are in difficulties because they do not know in some cases where the goods come from?
§ Mr. ManderCan the President say in what proportion of cases the word "Japanese" is put on and in what proportion only the word "Foreign"?
Mr. StanleyNot without notice. If the hon. Member will put the question down, I will try to find out.