OLEOMARGARINE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1891, 17 February 1888, Page 7

OLEOMARGARINE.

Legislation at Home and Abroad Affecting the Manufacture and Sale of the Piujdi'CT* The much needed legislative enactments regulating the manufacture and sale of oleomargarine, butterine, &c. now in force in the United Kingdom, on the Continent of Europe, and in the United States must be regarded as an inestimable boon by skilful dairy farmers whose industry has been for some years past so seriously affected by the enormous and unrestricted sale of various compounds under the name of butter. To such perfection has the manufacture of these compounds been brought that even in the best* markets lately they have escaped detection by experts, and have competed successfully with superior grades of butter. In such markets, however, and indeed on the part of the discerning public generally, in all countries, the desire to procure genuine butter and for protection in their purchases has continued to be so pronounced as in a manner to compel legislation. But while the recent enactments will help to enhance the value and increase the demand for genuine high.-ciass butter, a little reflection will show that .their pperatpn mugt adversely affect

the sale of inferior qualities. Public opinion nowadays— and almost invariably it must be admitted correctly— attributes the inferiority of butter to unclean surroundings, or neligence and want of skill on the part of the dairy farmer. Butterine is known to be cleanly made, and from wholesome materials; therefore will it be preferred to ill-tasted, inodorous butter, and will ere long drive the latter out of all considerable markets. A contemporary reviews the working of the American Oleomargarine Act, which came into force on the Ist of November 1886. The details are referred to at length in the report of the Commissioner of Internal Kevenue for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1887. Daring the eight months of the working of the act the sum of 729,948d0l had been received from the duty imposed of two cents a pound, and the licenses paid by manufacturers and dealers ; and the Commissioner adds " the amount during the succeeding four months, completing the first year of the operation of the act, brought the total receipts to nearly a million of dollars." The quantity of oleomargarine on which duty was paid during the eight months was nearly 22,000,0001b. The effect of the charges, and the restriction of the act, may be imagined from the fact that the number of firms engaged in the oleomargarine trade was 7302 prior to May 1, 1887, and fell to 1584 during May and June. Apparently manufacturers and dealers did not find it profitable to pay the duty and heavy licenses, the demand for oleomargarine having fallen off when it could no longer be sold as butter. At present the licenses are GOOdol on a manufacturer, 480dol on a wholesale dealer, and 48dol on a retail dealer. The Commissioner recommends the reduction of the dealers' license to one-fourth of the* present amount, to prevent the fraudulent sale of oleomargarine. Since the price of butter rose it appears tho sale of the imitative article has increased, and a great deal, it is believed, is fraudulently sold as butter.