MARGARINE IN NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13236, 23 July 1906, Page 4

MARGARINE IN NEW ZEALAND.

The managing director of ■the .New Zealand Dairy Association in a* letter addressed to the ; Premier, : which we print in another column, calls attention to- the'fact that 'margarine is how being imported into the colony.

and that in consequence there is a risk that ife-may- be used in some cases to the detriment of the high reputation which New Zealand but* ter has acquired for excellence and purity. While we do not" believe that any margarine is being brought into the cojony for any purpose likely to affect the quality of our butter, the matter is one deserving of the serious consideration of the Government. It is of the utmost importance ' not only . that the superior character of , Few Zealand butter should be maintained,: but that itshould be absolutely above suspicion. If this can only be secured by prohibiting the importation of margarine for any purpose whatever, public opinion would undoubtedly justify such a course. So closely has margarine been made to resemble butter that the ablest experts are sometimes unable to detect the difference. It will be readily understood, therefore, that if once the importation of this article assumed extensive proportions the reputation of New Zealand butter might be prejudicially affected, for, as Mr. Spragg points out, the margarine might .*.' actually find its way back to England certified to as pure New Zealand butter." The prosperity; of. the colony, is so intimately bound up with the prosperity of the dairy industry .that nothing which in.any way, however remotely, may be regarded as likely to injure that industry can be looked upon with indifference and we trust that the. Government will see to it that nothing is permitted to be done that is calculated to have that result.