MR. J. E. ELLISI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the statements of Consul General Bernal, at p. 29 of his Report on the Trade of the Havre District, as to the evasion of "The Margarine Act, 1887;" and whether instructions will be given to the Customs Officers to do their utmost to prevent these frauds?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON, Leeds, N.)I have referred to the Report quoted by the hem. Member as to the adulteration of Normandy butter, and have called the attention of the Board of Customs to it, and asked them to take any steps in their power to expose the adulteration. I notice that the Vice Consul states that, between 1882 and 1887, the export of butter from Normandy to England fell from nearly 90,000,000f. to 58,000,000f., 1298 a decrease of more than 35 per cent. It is therefore apparent that deteriorated butter is not appreciated.