15 APRIL 1938, Page 3

A good deal of Parliamentary time has recently been occu-

pied in considering the details of marketing legislation. Last week the report stage of the Sea Fish Industry Bill gave rise to a lively debate on the exercise by the various Boards of their powers to inflict penalties. The Liberal Opposition proposed that instead of the Fish Marketing Board inflicting fines for contraventions of the proposed scheme the alleged offenders should be dealt with in their local police courts. They emphasised the undoubted hardship that would be inflicted on fishermen or salesmen who might be required to travel hundreds of miles in order to appear before members of the Board sitting in London. Even if they were acquitted they would not be reimbursed the expenses of their journey. * * * *