§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY (Limerick, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the fact that new milk heavily charged with boracic acid or water is forced by means of a spiral machine into butter, which increases its weight and bulk; and what steps he will take, by legislation or otherwise, to prevent such adulterations of butter in the interests of the public.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. HANBURY,) PrestonThe facts as stated in the question 775 are, I believe, correct. At Longton, on the day following the Bath decision, a conviction was obtained against the same firm; and I understand that it is to be appealed against. Other prosecutions are being held over until the decision on appeal has been given. The settlement of a butter standard, to which I referred in answer to another question of the hon. Member, will itself, I hope, go far to prevent such questions arising.
§ MR. FLYNNIs it not the fact that boracic acid, in addition to being an adulterant, is most dangerous to health?
§ MR. HANBURYI should not like to answer that without notice.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in France the authorities refuse to allow the use of it?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That does not arise out of the question.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYI beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can state when he proposes to appoint a Committee to inquire into the question of the quantity of water to be legally allowable in butter; what will be the nature of the Committee; what will be the character of the evidence submitted to it, and where will the inquiry be held.
§ MR. HANBURYThe Committee will be appointed as soon as we have collected sufficient expert evidence and analytical facts to lay before it. The Committee will be of the same character as that to which the question of a milk standard was submitted. We are in communication with the Irish Department as to the constitution of it.