asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that some of our manufacturers are buying Continental goods, stamping their own name on them, and then offering such goods for sale ostensibly as British manufacture; and whether he will have investigation made into the extent of this practice?

I have no definite information to the effect indicated by my hon. Friend. If, however, he will send me evidence of such a practice having been followed in any particular case, I shall be glad to consider what action can be taken.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that some manufacturers cast the names of English towns on their machines, indicating that they are made in England, although in fact they are made abroad?

If a manufacturer puts a wrong mark on any article, he is liable to prosecution.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I have frequently represented these facts to the Board of Trade, but that it has been utterly impossible up to now to obtain a prosecution?

If my hon. Friend will bring specific cases to my notice, they will certainly be looked into.

Have any steps been taken to prevent these wrongly marked goods from being brought into this country, in view of the fact that we cannot very well prosecute a German in Germany?

This question is on another subject altogether. This is a case of our own manufacturers stamping goods which they have imported. The other matter must be the subject of a separate question.

Does not this indicate the unscrupulous character of private enterprise?