§ MR. ARCHDALE (Fermanagh, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, as President of the Department of Agriculture, whether, seeing there have been so many convictions in Ireland lately for persons selling margarine to country shopkeepers as butter, any prosecutions have been put in force by the Department against the manufacturer, under Clause 7 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1899; and whether his official information shows that a sufficiently strict and constant inspection of the factories and wholesale places of business of dealers in margarine is carried out, so that the provisions of the Act for the protection of pure butter makers can be enforced.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe answer to the first paragraph is in the negative. The Department has, during many months, organised a strict and systematic inspection on the premises of those who manufacture or deal in margarine. The action of local authorities, who are primarily responsible for the execution of these Acts, is largely due to the initiative of the Department, and in some instances prosecutions have been based on information procured by the Departmental Inspector. The Department has also appointed an officer for the special purpose of taking samples.