THE BUTTER QUESTION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 32, 2 November 1920, Page 10

THE BUTTER QUESTION

Sir.—l should bo glad if you could tell pie why the inannfactuvo of margarine is not allowed in this Dominion. I understand that a good pala-.iiblc article can be put on tlic market at about Is. to Is. ad. por lb., which, with 15 per cent, of Ronuino but tor added, cannot bo distinguished from ordinary factory butter by the consumer. 1 am led to understand that a manufacturer of this.comnioditv in, Ajisfralia has tho necessnry machinery, nnd would be prepared to start making margarine licro if he were allowed to do so.' Wo have any quantity of good, edible tallow available—no hotter in tho world—and it would give an outlet in this direction which would bo very useful, nnd would save the risk of shipping and expense to which, this article has to submiu before it can bo marketed. My firm lias lately shipped tallow to America, tho cost thereof being <fil2 fis. Cd per ton'by the tiniP it was sold in New York. Why are wo not allowed to uso our own proditcifc in our own country and thus save this useless expense?

As the son. of a poflr parson, I was brought up on dripping and seldom lasted butter, but we liked the dripping and throve on it,- and for mos'ti people margarine, if of good quality, is just an wholesome as butlor. Probably it would not be good enough for Jtasrs. Frnser. .Holland, nnd their clan, but. ordinary people would b(J only too glad to hnvo tho chance of saving the extra cos;l of buttor in those times of costly living, nnd tho farmer would benefit by being able to export more of his 'bulior. I odor the sugges'liou for what it is worth, though, possibly there may he somo good reason, beyond tho ordinary political ono, which makes it desirable that margarine should not be allowed to be manufactured hero.—l am. etc.. ,R. S. ABRAHAM.