§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEY (Somerset, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that by a recent decision of the High Court, butter may be sold to the public which has been adulterated with a large percentage of moisture without infringement of the Margarine Act; and whether he will introduce a Bill to put a stop to the sale of an article which is prejudicial in the interests of the dairy industry of Great Britain and of the retailers and consumers throughout the country.
§ MR. HANBURYI am aware of the prejudice done to the makers of genuine butter both in this country and the Colonies by the sale as milk blended butter of an article artificially loaded with 25 per cent. of water. The recent introduction of an authorised standard of butter will, it is to be hoped, if standards in such cases are to be of any real value, have the effect of preventing such an article being so sold, but should that not prove to be the case, further steps ought, I think, to be taken without delay to remedy the injustice done to both British and Colonial farmers.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that owing to the decision of the Court, milk blended butter can be sold quite easily if only a notice is stuck up in the shop?
§ MR. HANBURYNo. That was not the decision. The Court decided it was not margarine.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYI am referring to an earlier decision.