WATERED BUTTER.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1978, 7 February 1914, Page 14

WATERED BUTTER.

ADULTERATION IN VANCOUVER. NEW ZEALAND ARTICLE TAMPERED WITH. Some correspondence has taken place between the Prime Minister of New Zealand (the Bight Hon. W. F. Massey) and the Prime Minister of the Dominion of Canada, regarding tho mani--pulation of Now Zealand butter in Vancouver, In November last Mr. Massey wrote to tho Prime Minister of Canada as follows:—"I have tho honour to bring tinder your notice that, from information supplied to merchants in this Dominion, it seems evident that the manipulation of New Zealand butter by_ tho addition of water k fairly extensively practised in Vancouver. It is stated that up to 28 per cent, of water, is incorporated, which far exceeds the limit imposed in your Daminion. This 'faked' butter is sold as New Zealand butter, and this tends to damage the reputation of our shippers of dairy produce, besides being detrimental to the consuming public. I understand that legal proceedings have already been taken by the authorities against these manipulators and my Government welcomes this action." The letter concludes with a request for additional vigilonce in- respeet to the inspection of the butter. In reply the Prime. Minister has received the following communication from the Canadian Minister of' Agriculture (tho Hon. M. Burrell).—"The Prime Minister has handed mo your letter- of: December 2D last in which you bring to his notice tho manipulation of New Zealand butter by tho addition of water- ■ after its arrival in Vancouver. I am very glad you have called attention to the matter as it gives me the opportunity of assuring you that in our dairy laws, as administered by my Department, such a practice when discovered iis very speedily put a stop to. Just ! about a month ago information was : received that dealers in New Zealand butter in Vancouver wcro rechurning it ' for tho purpose of incorporating an excess of water. Steps were immediately taken to aavo the matter investigated, with tho result that legal proceedings were taken against two of the prifici- ! yal dealers, who were convicted and fined for selling butter containing water in excess of the legal limit of 16 per ■ cent." The letter adds that the Department's m inspector has personally warned retail dealers against the practice of adulterating butter and es* plained to them that they were liable to prosecution if caught At present, there' is an inspector making a reinspeetion of butter sold in Vancouver, and. tho Minister of Agriculture states that ho is making arrangements for an inspector to reside permanently at Vancouver. "I can safely assure you," concludes the. letter, "that no manipulation of New Zealand putter is carried on at present, and certainly none will be allowed in. the future."