Oleomargarine Legislation in America.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 227, 5 November 1887, Page 3

Oleomargarine Legislation in America.

Elsk\vhi;rk in this issue there is a reference to the controversy in England on tho subject of Iho sale of bogus butter under various names, and we state that in America a law was recently parsed to regulate the sale of this article. This law came into operation on December Ist of last year, and tho following arc its principal provisions :—: — By the provisions of the law every manufacturer is to pay a special tax 0f£125, and Id per lb on all products ; wholesale dealer a tax of £96, retail dealers £9 10s. The penalties attached to illegally cairyingon the manufacture of oleomargarine shall be be, besides being liable to the payment of the tax, a fine of not less than £200 or more than £1,000. A wholesale dealer soiling without having fulfilled tho requirements of the law shall be liable to a tine of not less than £100 or more than £400, besides the tax ; and a retail dealer shall be liable to be fined from £10 to £100 for each and every offence, and be held liable for the tax. All oleomargarine shall be packed by the manufacturer in firkins, tubs, or other wooden packages not before used for that purpose, f ach containing not less than 101b,, and mniked, stamped, and branded, as the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, shall prescribe ; and all sales made by manufacturers of oleomargarine shall be in original stamped packages, in quantities not exceeding 301b., and shall pack what they sell in suitable wooden or paper packages, marked and brandod as the law shall direct. A penalty of from £20 to £200, and imprisonment from six months to two years, attaches to the infringement of the law relativo to the last named point. Although in New Zealand the manufacture ; of oleomargarine does not, so far as wo know, injuriously affect our dairying industries, it is as well that wo should be on our guard, and watch the action of other countries Mich regard to the trade, at showing the light in which its competition with genuine butter is regarded by farmers, and those who legislate in their interests.

Milking in the barnyard, says an exchange, '*s an old fashion that should be abandoned. It is inconvenient and unclean. It should go with tho wooden pail and the hairy butter and never be heard of any more ; gone and forgotten, too. It is a wonder that any farmer would permit ifc, and fefcill more a wonder that farmers' wives or daughters would consent to it.