Parliamentary Publications. 



267 



dated 27th July last, state {inter alia) that they are satisfied that 

 the operation of the Merchandise Marks Act of 1887 has been 

 on the whole beneficial, and that there is abundant evidence 

 that it has to a great extent stopped the fraudulent practices 

 against which it was directed. The effect of those portions 

 of the Act referring to the imitation of proprietary trade 

 marks and false trade descriptions has been especially bene- 

 ficial. The establishment and observance of higher standards 

 of honesty has tended to inspire a confidence in the accuracy 

 of the marks placed upon British goods, and to enlarge to 

 that extent, and give stability to, the trade of British mer- 

 chants and manufacturers. Notwithstanding, therefore, that 

 the competition of improperly marked foreign goods is still 

 in some cases injurious, and that merchandise marks legisla- 

 tion has made little progress outside the United Kingdom, 

 India, and the British Colonies, the balance of the evidence 

 is in favour of retaining the greater portion of the Act. 



Moreover, the Act is now well understood both at home 

 and abroad ; many of the objections which were made to its 

 wording have been met by adjustments in practice, and the 

 Committee strongly deprecate any change in its chief 

 provisions relating to the importation of goods for use in the 

 United Kingdom. 



The Committee having received much evidence of the 

 advertisement of the merchandise and products of foreign 

 countries, owing to the present requirement of the specifica- 

 tion of the particular country of origin, and of the disadvantage 

 caused to British merchants and dealers by the consequent 

 disclosure of trade secrets, and the loss to and discourage- 

 ment of British business enterprise, are of opinion that the 

 primary objects of the Act, viz., the protection of British 

 manufacturers and purchasers against fraud by the sale ot 

 foreign merchandise as British, would be substantially gained, 

 and British trade enterprise (especially in the very needful 

 increase of British commercial travellers and agents abroad 

 and in the Colonies) improved by substituting for the specifi- 

 cation of the country of origin the words " Made abroad." 



