§ 29. Mr. E. Smithasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the growing practice of erasing the stamp of origin of products produced in the Far East; that people have been misled by this action; and can appropriate action be taken in order to make it compulsory to brand all products with the country of origin?
§ Captain WallaceMy attention has not previously been called to this matter, but if the hon. Member would furnish me with particulars of any cases in which an indication of origin required under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, is being removed I will certainly consider what action can be taken. There is no power under that Act either to require all imported goods to be marked or, where an indication of origin is required, that the indication should necessarily be the name of the country of origin.
§ Mr. SmithAm I to understand from that answer that no representations have been made by the organised manufacturers in this country to deal with this matter?
§ Captain WallaceI think that must be so, because if such representations had been made, I should not have said that my attention had not been called to the matter.