BUTTER SALES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21210, 3 December 1938, Page 17

BUTTER SALES

BRITISH PRACTISES PURE “NEW ZEALAND" PRODUCT HARD TO BUY “I am quite certain that if the law in England compelled the country of origin to be disclosed on butter sold in the United Kingdom, the New Zealand article would have enormously increased sales,” said Mr G. H. Morrish, of Whangarei, who has recently returned from an extended visit to Britain. Mr Morrish said he had felt that New Zealand butter was not being satisfactorily sold as such by the retail houses in the United Kingdom, and the result of his inquiries had more than confirmed these doubts. In the course of his inquiries Mr Morrish made purchases of butter from various shops throughout the country. “All kinds of our products are popular with the British consumer," said Mr Morrish, “and the people ask for them by name, and everything possible is done by the High Commissioner, Mr W. J. Jordan, and the general manager of the Dairy Sales Division to advertise our goods. The present position is not due to any lack of effort on the part of these officers. An Ironical Position "Except in two or three Instances I found it impossible to purchase butter that I could say definitely was pure New Zealand butter. Tire irony of the position is that in all the large advertisements appearing so prominently throughout the country the public are enjoined to ask for New Zealand butter by name. “Under the British Merchandise Marks Act there is nothing to prevent New Zealand butter from being blended with that of some other Dominion and sold as ‘Empire.’ lam convinced, as the result of my inquiries, that practically the only butter sold that can be relied upon as pure New Zealand is that under ‘Anchor’ brand. In nearly all other butter sold there is a definite doubt as to the proportion of the New Zealand article it contains. “On asking for New Zealand butter in a large London shop, I was sold that from bulk marked ‘finest quality Empire butter.’ It was certainly not New Zealand make. Another purchase was sold as best New Zealand and was blended in London. Australian from Same Bulk "I asked the salesman of a large firm why I was given New Zealand butter from a bulk supply marked ‘Empire.’ I was informed that it contained more New Zealand than any other Dominion butter. I was subsequently sold Australian butter from the same bulk supply. I asked if the firm sold any other butter which was wholly New Zealand product, and was told it did not. The firm is one of the largest operating in London. This same firm some days later sold to me as the New Zealand article butter from bulk marked ‘finest Empire.’ It was highly coloured and appeared to be local dairy made. “In a northern city a lady whose son is a dairy farmer in New Zealand was under the impression that she was buying pure New Zealand butter until I pointed out to her that the label indicated ‘Empire.’ This was sold to her as New Zealand butter.

“In another northern city I inquired at a shop for New Zealand butter and

was handed butter labelled ‘Empire.’ I asked why ‘Empire,’ as I had asked for New Zealand. The attendant replied that the firm sold only New Zealand butter, and that he could guarantee it as such. The British Merchandise Marks Act, he said, required only that butter be labelled under one of three headings, ‘Empire,’ ‘Foreign,’ or ‘English.’ All butter produced within the Empire was therefore labelled ‘Empire.’ He admitted that, as his firm sold only New Zealand butter, it could easily have labels marked ‘New Zealand’ instead of ‘Empire.’

“It is noticeable that the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board states in its English advertisements that meat branded ‘Empire' is not New Zealand, and urges buyers to look for the mark ‘New Zealand’ stamped on the principal joints.

Need for a Change in Act “Some years ago a distinctive label for our butter was used, but many British dealers copied it and used it on blended butter, thus making it ineffective. There does not appear to be. any legislation to prevent this. In order that the distinctive label should become fully effective it would be necessary to have the British Merchandise Marks Act amended, providing severe penalty for any infringement. “There does not appear to be any Insuperable difficulty in obtaining this alteration. A mark such as ‘Anchor’ should meet the position. ‘Anchor’ is known as a New Zealand name by many British consumers. Danish, Dutch, and Soviet butters are sold in the shops under their respective headings without any confusion, and in some shops Australian butter is displayed as such. It was only rarely that I saw New Zealand butter so displayed. “The position the New Zealand authorities in England are facing was set out in a letter I received from the High Commissioner in reply to an inquiry. ‘There Is no power under the British Merchandise Marks Act for New Zealand to prevent the use of the terms “English,” “Foreign” and “Empire.” ’ he said ‘Everything possible has been done to induce the use of the term “New Zealand” in all shops, but beyond that it is impossible for the Dominion to go while the law remains as It is.

“ Tn any case the prevention of improper or illegal ticketing-up of products lies with the British authorities themselves,’ Mr Jordan continued. ‘lt is impossible for New Zealand to take other action than to institute legal proceedings where there Is a breach of the law. Where cases have occurred in reference to the wrong labelling of our meat, action has been taken by the New Zealand Meat Board in London, but it is very difficult indeed to succeed in similar cases in respect to butter. Witness to a purchase are required, unless, of course, the shopkeeper will give an invoice stating that the article sold is “New Zealand,” and few shops will give an invoice if asked for one. “ ‘The New Zealand Government is well aware of the present practices. There is little doubt that if the law here compelled the ticketing-up with “country of origin,” the various products in which we compete would have enormously increased sale, because our products are popular and the people ask for them.’ ”