40. Brigadier-General Brownasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that imported turkeys, as to which the Merchandise Marks (Imported Goods) No. 5 Order, 1934, applies, are often exposed for sale without any marking and are, in consequence, not infrequently bought as English birds; that prosecutions by local authorities frequently take place; and whether he will consider a more effective method of marking them to make this practice impossible?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI have no evidence that there is any general evasion of the requirements of the Order to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. The fact that, since its introduction in 1934, a number of traders have been prosecuted for failure to comply with its provisions indicates that the local authorities concerned are aware of their responsibilities in regard to its enforcement. With regard to the last part of the question, I have no power to amend the prescribed method of marking imported turkeys. An alteration of the relevant provisions of the Order could only be effected upon the recommendation of the Standing Committee appointed under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, after a public inquiry into an application for the amendment of the Order.
Brigadier-General BrownIn view of the fact that the Council of Agriculture in England the other day passed a resolution giving the evidence which the Minister says he has not got, surely there is evidence about the unsatisfactory way in which the Order is being carried out?
§ Mr. MorrisonI was present at the discussion to which my hon. and gallant Friend referred, arid my information is as I have stated it. I have no evidence of widespread infringement of the Order, and the fact is that local authorities are on the whole very eager to prosecute when they have any evidence on which to found a prosecution.