THE BUTTER TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12069, 12 September 1902, Page 5

THE BUTTER TRADE.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright

London, September 10. At the instance of the butter trade and the agricultural .societies, Mr. R. W. Hanbury, President of the Board of Agriculture, has agreed to amend the Butterine Bill to prohibit the sale of butter containing more than 20 per cent, of moisture. Butter with between 16 and -20 pel cent, of moisture must be labelled "adulterated butter."

In June a deputation waited upon Mr. Hanbury, the President of the Board of Agriculture, for the purposo of urging the Board to introduce legislation to prohibit tho manufacture and sale of milk-blended butter. Among other speakers, Air. Reeves Agent-General for New Zealand, insisted on the damage done by this milk-blending to the trade of the colonial farmers. Mr. Hanbury, in reply, said he did not think it ought to be the policy of the Board of Agriculture to encourage 'he manufacture of mi inferior article. It was said that this milk-blending was perfectly fair competition. He did not think so. lie could remember the time when the adulteration was considered a legitimate kind of cornpetition, bur- that had been altogether changed. The question in his mind was: Was the ordinary buyer put sufficiently on his guard? J -In cmld not say that lie thought so. They desired not only to protect the consumer, but also the honest tradesman, who win entitle-*! •to his trade description. A? to legislation, they had already the- precedent of the Margarine Act, and if legislation hud been required in that matter it was equally required to limit the amount of moisture in butter. Ha asked them to leave tho matter in his hands. lie not only agreed with them that legislation was required, but he would go further and say he agreed with some of the speakers that, they required speedy legislation. Speaking to another deputation, Mr. Hanbury said a Bill was in preparation which he hoped might pass this session.