§ MR. STAPLETONsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been called to the importation from China of large quantities of adulterated or spurious Tea, stated by Dr. Letheby, by whom it has been analyzed, to consist of re-dried leaves of exhausted Tea in a state of putrefaction; whether he is aware that it is used for the adulteration of genuine Tea, and that it is in such demand that its price has risen from 2d. to 5¼d.; and, whether the Board of Trade are taking any measures to protect the public from the increase of adulteration indicated by this rise in the price of re-dried Tea leaves?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVRESir, I believe it is a fact that considerable importations have recently been made of tea of very inferior quality, consisting, it is said, of re-dried leaves of tea which has already been used. A portion of this has been seized by the City authorities, under the Nuisances' Removal Act, on the ground that it is unfit for food. The remainder has been already exported to the Continent. I am not able to say whether any portion of it has got into general consumption in this country; but as the Excise Department exercise considerable power of seizing adulterated tea wherever it may be, I am not prepared to say that the law requires any amendment.