§ 92. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the minimum amount of wool in a material to 259W permit its ranking as a woollen cloth; what was the minimum amount prewar; and when will these prewar amounts be restored.
§ Mr. BelcherThe use of a trade description, including the term "woollen," is governed by the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887. This Act does not prescribe any minimum wool content for cloth described as "woollen," but prohibits false trade descriptions in general. Interpretation of the Act in particular cases is a matter for the Courts. During and since the war, for the purposes of Orders and Directions made under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Acts and the Supplies and Services (Transitional Powers) Act, it has been necessary to distinguish products of the wool textile industry from those of other industries. This was done by including as woollen any goods containing more than 15 per cent. by weight of wool. The Board of Trade, however, have been careful to point out that this definition of "woollen" has been adopted for the sake of administrative convenience and does not in their view affect for the purposes of the Merchandise Marks Act the meaning of that term when used as a trade description.