The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-22 00:00:00

ASSOCIATED CHAMBERS OP COMMERCE.

DZMITATION TO sIR STAFFORD NORTRCOTe.

A deputation yesterday waited on the Right Hon. Sir
Stafford Northeote to under his notice several
matters which have been aisaured by the Associated
Chambers at their meeting. The deputation, which in-
cluded a large body of the members, was attended by Sir
Morton Peto, M.P., Mr. Baines, M.P., Colonel Akroyd,
M.P., Mr. Berkeley, 11. P., Mr. Beaumont, M.P. (South
WestlYolicskire), Sir Francis Crossley, M.P.. Mr. Forster,
M.P., Mr. Henderson, M.P., and Mr. Seely, M.P.
Mr. Fonierra, in introducing the deputation, said there
were four or five questions to which the attention of the
right hoe, gentleman would be called and which would be
discussed. He (Mr. Forster) was requested to say, first,
one won! in regard to a subject which had much and fre-
quently interested the Chan iberof Commerce--theAustrisn
treaty. They were rather of opinion that there would be
no great advantage in publicly discussing it just now, and
they did not propose to do so, because it was the unani-
mous opinion of the chamber that the government re-
quired no pressure to use their utmost interest both with
regard to that and the subject of tariffs all throughout the
continent. They were very anxious on the question,
but left it with confidence in the hands of the government.
Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTZ, in vigil, said the govern-
ment had been very anxious about ' Austrian question.
The negotiations were suspended last year, with a distinct
engagement that they should be renewed on the Ist of
March this year. But then came the troubles of Austria,
its war with Prussia, and the negotiations it entered into
with the Zollverein and Italy ; and when the time drew
near for the renewal of the negotiations, the Austrian go-
' vernment represented that they wets not in a position at
this moment to go into them, so as to bring them to any
satisfactory result. They were urged to open the congress,
and, if the British government had chosen, they might
have sent over Mr. Malet and the other commissioners to
open the disc-um/lion. But it did appear that, in conse-
quence of the state of then egotiations between Austria
and Italy and between Austria and the Zollverein, and
especially in the absence from Vienna of a gentleman
who alone thoroughly understood the question, they
should have been doing more harm than good in bringing
up the negotiations at this moment. They really thought
they gained rather than lost by the delay. (Hear, hear.)
Mr.JonsoNtiii ITH (Sheffield) then introduced the amend-
ment of the patent laws. He said on this subject the royal
commission had made a report, and the chambers bad
discussed the question, and had come to a resolution that
the principle of the law was just to the individual sad
politic to the community at large. They felt, however,
that the introduction of the principle of registration and
re•registration at a comparatively small cost, had invited
people to apply for patents, that an endless variety of
trifles had become kmtented which created considerable con-
fusion, and that it was exceedingly desirable that some
revision or amendment should be made. They desired to
know what steps the present government had taken upon
the question, and to urge respectfully that they should
bring to a settlement a matter so important to the manu-
facturing industry of the country.
Mr. LLOYD (President of the Associated Chambers), then
brought several matters under the notice of the right hon.
gentleman. He alluded briefly to the importance of the
establishment of tribunals of commerce, the liability of
unregistered partners in firms, the incorporation of
chambers of commerce, the registration of trade marks,
the preparation by the Board of Trade of statistical
tables, and the metric system. In regard to the latter,
and in reply to a question from Sir Stafford Northoote,
Mr. Baines said that in many chambers, among others his
own, there was • very decided opinion in favour of the
adoption of the metric system.
Sr &Arrow Ni HTHCOTE said most of the subjects had
engaged the attention of the government, and with regard
to tnbunals of commerce, a bill which he had obtained
leave to introduce would do something in the desired direc
Lion. _ .

iIY. LLOYD then explained the views of the Associated
Chambers on the subjects of registration of partnerships,
and the registration of trade marks ; and the deputation
withdoew.