MOISTURE IN BUTTER.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 201, 21 October 1909, Page 5

MOISTURE IN BUTTER.

Continuing the Address-in-Reply debate on Tuesday, Mr Greenslade devoted his remarks entirely to the recent prosecution of the New Zealand Dairy Association for alleged excessive moisture in butter. He referred to the remark made by the Minister for Agriculture, Hon. T. Mackenzie, on Friday night, to the effect that certain companies were in the habit of pumping water into their butter. This statement, said Mr Greenslade, was a serious reflection upon the whole or some of the companies, and the matter called for the fullest possible investigation. If such a practice as was alleged to exist, did exist, every effort should be made to put a stop to it but the late case at Auckland partook more of the nature of a persecution than a prosecution. Instead of the Minister making statements as to the pumping of water into butter, it would be much better if he would endeavour to pump a little common sense into some of the officials connected with the industry. Mr Greenslade read letters from Mr Wesley Spragg, containing allegations of animus against the New Zealand Dairy Association by officials of the Department. He. Mr Greenslade, urged that there should be a full investigation to ascertain whether this alleged feeling really did or dii not exist. The prosecution had been a vexatious one and should never have taken place. He did not blame the present Minister, who, he believed, was not in office when the prosecution was initiated, and he expreyed pleasure at hearing Mr Mackenzie say that he intended to have the methods of taking samples altered.