§ MR. W. O'BRIEN (Cork)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has yet come to any conclusion as to the introduction of a Bill this Session for remedying the defects of the existing law for the detection of fraudulent substitutes for butter?
MR. J. MORLEYI am well aware, as my hon. Friend knows, of the great importance of this subject. Since the question addressed to me by my hon. Friend on February 26th, a Select Committee has been appointed, in continuation of the Committee of last Session, to inquire into the working of the Margarine Act, 1887, and the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1875, and any Acts amending the same, and to report whether any, and if so what, amendments of the law relating to adulteration are, in their opinion, desirable. Immediately upon receipt of the Committee's Report the question of amending Legislation shall be carefully considered.
§ MR. W. O'BRIENasked whether the right hon. Gentleman did not consider that the course he proposed to adopt meant the loss of another butter season, and that nothing would be done in the matter for another 12 months.
MR. J. MORLEYI regret the delay, but my hon. Friend will see the difficulty in the way of proposing Legislation on a subject which the House has already referred to a Committee.