THE BUTTER BILL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 128, 31 May 1907, Page 4

THE BUTTER BILL.

The Butttr Bill, introduced in the House of Commons by Sir E. Strachey, Liberal member for tho South Division of Somerset, representing tho Dopartment of Agriculture, has mado considerable progress, and so far as we have been advised only one important amendment has been made, and this was mentioned in our cabJe messages of yesterday. Tho special committee to which the Bity was referred haa agreed to an amendment proposed by Sir E. Strachey that, only milk-blended butter shall be recognised as a butter substitute. It cannot bo said that th 9 Bill fully mests the requirements of colonial producers of butter, who desiro to soe the, sale of butter substitutes and imitations of butter prohibited. The Imperial Governm3nt could not go the length demanded by thn colonial interests without inflicting very great hardship.-, on tho poorer classes in Great Biitain. Tho main r. roviiions of the Bill as introduced provided for the registration and inspection of factories where but tor is blended or leworked, ot where butter substitutes are made. It ompowers, ths authorities of tbe Boaid of Agriculture to enter any unregistered. premises if thei-2 is a belief that inspection is desirable. The percentage of moisture in butter and margarine, whetiur Home-made or imported, is limited to 16 per cent., and in butter substitutes to 24 per cent. The latter must be delivered to the parchaser in a wrapper bearing a printed description of the article. By the terms of the amendment which ths Spev-Jal Committee has approved, milk-blended butter only is to bo recognised as a butter substitute. This should have the effect of materially increasing the sale of milk-blended butter, and that is scarcely what colonial producers desire. Blended or reworked butter is not impugned in any way, nor yet is thsre any provision for a distinctive, wrapper for ,iuch products. So long as the moisture is within the lirr.it of 16 per cent., there does not appoar to be anything to prevent blended and reworked butters being sold as choicest New Zealand or Australian. The blending of 'fcyvier is regarded as legitimate, just as tho blending of tea, and flour, and ,whisky. and othar items of food and drink. Tho distinctive character of New Zealand butter is lost by such a process but thero is compensation in the steady demand for our butter for blending purposes. .And tho passing of thn Butter Bill will in all probability lead to an increased demand for saltless New Zealand butter. Margarine- and all imitations of butter aro protacted, so long as they conform to tho moisture limit, and are correctly labelled. They must Ye sold on their merits, and this will tend to put a stop to the ma:iy fraudulent practices which havo come to light m tho past. Tho Gutter Bill should m tho end provo of considerable benefit to colonial producers.

The section of the North Island Main Trunk railway between Taihape and Maturoa will bo opened for passenger traffic to-morrow. The section is six miles Jong, making the distance from Ma'rton 50 miles. Two trains will be run daily each way. The settlers at ~Mat&ro4 have arranged a ceieinony to-morrow in connection with the opening of the line. Mr. Remington, M.H.R., will bo amongst the speakers. Goods trains have been running up as far as Waioru for some time, and it is intended next month to open the Mataroa-Turangcrc section (11 miles) for passenger traffic. Major Gallagher, representative of the United States Army commissariat in the Philippines, who went South List night, paid a visit to the Gear Company's works yesterday, and inspected the processes of concerting meat into a food supply. He was particularly desiriou3 of obtaining quantities of yew Zealand beef for early delivery •-t Manila, but was not successful iv Wellington. The Major is to interview tho meat companies in Christchurch, ami if New Zealand can supply hecf cheaper than the quotations received from Australian companies, then lio is prepared to do business. The quantity of beef required for tho army in tho Philippines is about 300 tons per month. A team of lacrosse players from the Wellington Club left by this morning's train to meet a team in Auckland to-morrow afternoon. Tho Wellington team consists of Bell, Blackman, Estcourt (English players), Montgomery. (Canadian), Jantko (South Australian), C'louston (Victoria), Casey, Horn, Lovy, Stains, Whito, and M'Ginley (NewZealandors). Tho team, which Estcourt will captain, is expected to give a good account of itself, as it includes some experienced players. Estcourt, Bell, Montgomery, Horn, and Jantke, will be a formidable attacking forco, all being fast and tricky playors, and tho others should form a good defence. Clouston -vrill probably bo goal, as neither Lovvcy nor Laing could niak* the trip. The Auckland Club is older than Wellington's, and tho Northern team may therefore have the better combination. A return match will probably be played in Wellington in August next. Breaches of railway bylaws were responsible for five men appearing bofore Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., to-day. One defendant was fined 5s with 9s costs for having smoked on the railway platform at Petone, and four others were each fined 5s with 17s costs for having trespassed on the Government railway station at Wellington by crossing from \hc station, to Waterloo-quay. A vieorone '"2fo" came from Mr. A. W. Hogg, "M.H.R., yesterday afternoon at a meeting of the Education Hoard 1 , when a vote was takea on a motion that a letter of thanks and appreciation should be sent to the Wellington College Board of Governors for its willingness to provide tw<nty-five free places for board scholaio at the boys' college. "I don't see why we should knuckle down to the governors," declared Mr. Hogg. "They have been driven into this." He claimed that the governors did not deserre thanks for an action which they had Been compelled to take aftei a long delay. Mr. W. H. Field held that Mr. Hogg's statement of the case was not fair to the governo's. The motion was carried. A promise of marri3ge was the means used by a young man named Ernest Wehrstedt to rob a 'young woman of a bicycle valued at £6, a ring valued at £3, ahd £3 in money. Webrstedt last week plsaded guilty to the offence, and this morning appaarefl D3fpre Dr. M'Arthur, S,M., for sentence. Chief Detec tive M'Grath exploinsd that accused hid previously been sentenced to two years' imprisonment ir» Adelaide for omb'szzlement. He came hero in 1905, and succeeded in obtaining respectable employment, but was discharged in March, 1906, for dishonesty. He was not prosecuted on that occasion. Afterwards he went to Auckland, and eventually •?• toned hera. Mr. Wilfo»-d, for acc:ir«d, said he had no defence ; only an explanation to make Accused, he explained, was a victim to drags which ho had been taking. Kis Worship sentenced accused to tlirse months' imprisonment, : and told him that if, on coming out ! of {jaol, he applied to tho Prisoners' Aid Society, his. Worship could guarantee that he would be assisted. John M'lntosh, a middle-aged -man, was convicted of being an idle and a disorderly person, having insufficient means of sup port, aid v;as ordered to como up for sentene3 when colled upon. Sub-Inspec-tor O'Donovan stated that the defendant's friends were prooared to look afttv him. For insobriety^ Wm. Conrick and Alex. Eadie wcro each fined 40s, in dofanlt fourteen day 3* imprisonment, one first offender being convicted and discharged. ; At a special meeting of the Catholic Young Men's Club last night, it was decided to alter the name to tho " Wellington Catholic Club." In regard to th« schema for erecting a new hall, it was reported that a systematic canvass for funds would bo undertaken in Ssptembsv. It was derided' to call a meeting of subscribers to tha Brother Mark Memorial Fund at an early date, to consider the question of erecting a suitable memorial. Tho cjnestion of extending the scope of tho library was considered, and a committee to raport on tho matter was sst up, consisting of Rev. Fnther Kmb^ll aa.i Messrs. E. J. Fitzgibbon, P. J. Moran, and G. Dee. About a fortnight ago a little girl at Ballarat (Victoria) died of hydatfds. It was stated that tho child had been in ths habit of playing with n dog. In referring to tha case. Dr. Robertson of ths Board of Public Health, said that a dog might communicate the disease by Ticking r, child on the mouth or by licking a plate. The organism which produced tns eggs was Der.uliar to dogs, which should, in hi 3 opinion, bo kepi in the yard, and net, under any circumstances, ba allowed in the houso. According to the secretary of ihc board (Mr. J. W. Colville) a circular warning peaplc against the danger of hydatids being communicated by do"s to human beings was puolished in 1885. Certain precautions were recommended, bnt, presumably, they had been disregarded. A seasonable donation of five tons ot coal for the poor who are receiving relief is acknowledged by the Benevolent Trustees from Mr. Flavcll (manager of the Westport Coal Company). Dr. Morris, LL.D. of Melbourne will deliver a lecture in the Druids' Hall, Tory-street, on Saturday evening, commencing at 8 o'clock, ou "Tho Taxation ol Land Values." The Hon. G. l'owlds will preside. Dur:n ? tho hut week tho keen Southerly gale, with tho biting wind, has brought into prominence tho fur etoros of thw city. In anticipation of a big demand for fashionable and warm furs wo htvo imported a ipeaal line cf marmot necklets, which our London buyer wsa fortuznto in leeuring at a big tlircount. Tbcso new goods camo to hanfi Irft week, and pre now on talc in cur fur department at the .very low figuro of 8» 6d, 12s 6d, 21s. Wo hold tho ltrgejt stock of fur» in tho city, At C. Smith, "The Caoh Draper," Cuba' itreet. — Advt. Men'a work boots, direct from their own f«ctcry, aro advertised by Mewra. R. Htnr.ah and Co., Cuba-ttrect and Lamb-ton-quay. Tho Royal Hotel, Nelson, is advertised for «ale. Particulzca from Mr. W. R. Paraenter or Messrs. W. Rout and Bone, Neltoa.