§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked the Chief Secretary if he will say whether his attention has been called to the growing practice in all the large English cities of traders attempting to sell as Irish eggs from other countries; is it intended to pre- 404W vent the continuance of this form of fraud and have any steps recently been taken; and, if so, will he state with what result?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere is no doubt that sales of foreign eggs as Irish take place; but the Department of Agriculture cannot say that the practice is a growing one. They inform me that their inspection staff in Great Britain are most energetic in the work of endeavouring to detect frauds of this description, and will continue to take all practicable steps to prevent such sales. As a result of their action proceedings have been successfully instituted for offences under the Merchandise Marks Acts. In three of the cases the prosecutions were, at the request of the Department, undertaken by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. The most recent case of these was heard last week, and fines amounting to £20 were imposed, besides costs.