BUTTER IN THE LUMP.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 190, 6 May 1908, Page 2

BUTTER IN THE LUMP.

HOW NOT TO.'DO GOOD BUSINESS. • Mr. R. B. Levien, the Victorian Coriimeroial Agent for China and Japan, has something of interest to .say, in a report to his Agricultural Department, relative to methods of packing and wrapping the pats in shipments of bulk butter., He says respecting. Victorian bulk 1 butter:—"l have inspected two shipments, and-regret to report that the complaints are. reasonable. • I'found'in 'the case of. one shipment that the pats were carelessly packed, and had assumed - a "variety of shapes, so'.that the retailers could not make 'an attractive show for their customers. The paper wrappers, also, did not completely covcr the patsi so that, when the wrapper was removed' the- butter"'was'''dift'bl6ured. I weighed many of. the pats; '- and 1 found "the average to be lojoz. This .is to be .regretted, as in no place in the world 1 arb particular about weights than •in the Far East. I inspected another consignment of butter, and found that'each patiwas labelled ,with a statement that the butter, did not "contain more' than a certain percentage of preservative... If < such ■a, label. is .-.necessary . I 'am afraid that there will bo very : little butter sold: in these markets. A notice to i .tho. effect that-the contents■ of the : package ■ were put up in accordanco with the require- ■' merits of the .laws'of- the State would be an : assistance, but a notice that the butter did ; not_ contain more than j per cent.,: or; 17J ■ grains, of borjc acid . preservative "to' lib., will prevent tho sale of butter here." . . ' . Tho description of tbe rough way in which 1 the puts of butter-are made up ijt : strangely' 1 certain butter with ! which " attempts lm-o lately been made to cut into the trade of '■ AYellington. Good butter has'been spoilt in this .city during the past month or two by ; ncglect to cut the pats neatly and wrap them in clean and suitable butter paper: - Butter of all things, must look'attractive. '