COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 8903, 20 September 1889, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

MERCHANDISE MARKS ACT. The local Manger of the sNew Zealand Loan and. Mercantile Agency Company forwards us the following important circular from the Head Office in London, dated August 10: Referring to our circular letter relative to the operation of the above Act, we have no w to report that the Customs’authorities have quite recently stopped several shipments of wool, on tho ground that the marks consisted wholly or in part of names of places in tho United Kingdom, whilst no intimation is given of the origin of the produce. The following aro some examples of the brands to which exception has been taken : . Cheviot, K A Robson, Dolgelly, Dundee, AN J H W P B Bandon, Bridgewater, Killarney. One parcel of NoS l ' Zealand wool, moreover, the brand of which was not objected to, was stopped because it bore likewise the descriptive mark “Lincoln slipos.” Before allowing these shipments to be taken from tho dock tho Customs authorities have directed that either the names of the places be obliterated, or that the words “Produceof New Zealand”or “Produce of Australia,” according to origin, be added in equally conspicuous and indelible character. Representations are being made both direct to the Customs authorities and through the London Chamber of Commerce, with a view to pointing out the needless and vexatious character of the course the Customs are pursuing-, bub having regard to the position taken up and maintained by them in regard to imports of Colonial grain, referred to in detail in our market circulars 853 and 354, we fear there is little likelihood of their action herein being materially modified. Under these circumstances it is desirable again to call tho attention of shippers of Colonial produce to the necessity of conforming to the Customs regulations. In all cases i»*rMoh shipments, bear a mark/whethe^i

ib be name o£ the person, firm, or place which might be held to be indicative of origin in the United Kingdom, the name of the Colony in which the article was produced must be distinctly set forth. If this regulation be not complied with, not only will delay take place in obtaining possession of the goods, but expense will be incurred here in adding the information required by the Customs* authorities