BLENDED BUTTER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21019, 7 May 1930, Page 22

BLENDED BUTTER.

RESTRICTION OF SALE. (From Odh Own Correspondent.) LONDON, March 27. At a meeting of the Conservative Parliamentary Agricultural Committee, held in the House of Commons this week, representatives of the Australian, New Zealand, Irish Free State, and South African butter producers were received. ■ They made a statement regarding the blending of butters imported from foreign countries. Eventually the following resolution, proposed by Sir William Way land, and seconded by Mr Percy Hurd, was unanimously agreed to:—” That the Minister of Agriculture be urged to institute an inquiry under the Merchandise Marks Act with a view to making an order to distinguish. between aome, Empire, and foreign butters, and the sale of butter under labels which tend to deceive the consumer.” The subject was brought aghin in the House when Mr O. Lewis, Conservative member for Colchester, asked leave to introduce a Bill restricting the sale of blended butter. This measure, he explained, provided that when British Empire butter is mixed with butter imported from foreign countries, the product should bear prominently on the label the words ' Blended Butter.” He stated that last year 80,000 tons of butter were blended in this country. Of that quantity some 60,000 tons were of a rather inforioi quality, imported from Poland, Latvia, Siberia, and other foreign countries. A further 16,000 tons of good quality came from Australia, and tlie remaining 4000 tons were produced in this country. Tins blended butter was blended in factories situated for the most part in well-known dairying districts in this country, so that the printing on the wrapper of the address of the company led purchasers to think that the butter came from a well-known dairying district. The Imperial Economic Committee recommended that all blended butter should be required to bear prominently on the label the woid “ blended,” That was tho object of the Bill. Leave to introduce the measure was granted, and it was read a first time.