§ MR. W. O'BRIEN (Cork)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received resolutions of the Cork Butter Market Trustees, drawing attention to the injury that is caused to the Irish 1570 butter trade, the staple industry of the south, by the inefficiency of the present regulations for the detection of fraudulent butter substitutes; and whether he can see his way to comply with the request of the trustees for the appointment of an expert official inspector, with power to enter and examine all premises where margarine is manufactured or sold, and prosecute in case of fraud, generally to aid in the production of an improved class of butter?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. J. MORLEY,) Newcastle-upon-TyneIn answer to my right hon. Friend I beg to state that I have received these resolutions, and I am quite aware, as my hon. Friend knows, of the very great importance of excluding from the market those fraudulent substitutes, so far as they are fraudulent and designed to be fraudulently passed off for what they are not. But of course my hon. Friend must know that Legislation will be necessary. I find that there was a Bill introduced in 1892 with the object of partially to meet the same purpose which he desires to meet, but for some reason, which I do not recollect, that Bill was not proceeded with. I will carefully inquire, as to what Legislation can be devised that will be likely to pass the House without contention, and will then be ready to answer further questions of my hon Friend.