§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYI beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the decision of the High Court (King's Bench) given last Wednesday quashing, with costs, the conviction of Messrs. Pearks and Company, Limited, for selling milk-blended butter, he can take any further steps to prevent the sale of this article, or whether, after the decision of the High Court, legislation will be required to enable its sale to be stopped.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY (Limerick, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture, in view of the decision of the Judges in the appeal case of Pearks, Gunston, and Tee, Limited, v. Houghton, heard in the King's Bench Division on Wednesday, 26th February, with reference to the process of blending milk with butter, whether he intends to take any action in the matter.
§ ME. HANBURYThe decision given last Wednesday was on the point as to whether sufficient notice of the quality of the article sold had been given to the purchaser. But another appeal is pending on the further, and perhaps more important, point as to whether this milk-blended butter comes within the terms of the Margarine Act. Until a decision has been given in this case, and I expect it will be given early in March, I can express no opinion as to the necessity for legislation or otherwise.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYIs not the effect of the decision to declare legal the practice of blending milk and butter, which has hitherto been considered fraudulent?
§ MR. HANBURYBy no means. Until the decision has been given in the appeal case I have referred to, I cannot say whether or not any change in the law will be necessary.