BUTTER EXPORT BILL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 14 November 1907, Page 2

BUTTER EXPORT BILL

The lion. R. McXali, in moving the second reading of lac luiuer export Bill oil Tuesday, explained Unit the measure was introduced on account of complaints j.ngMiiii thai butter contained

<;u excess oi moisture. Two inspectors nad investigated shipments of butter iiom Aew Zealand, and the complaints were found to be to a certain extent ji.'-illied. The Bill provided that where uiuter for export contained more thau l'j per cent, of moisture, the person exporting or attempting to export should lie liable to a fine oi £SO. it had been found that some butter contained from 21 to iV/., per cent, of moisture. Mr. Ell did not altogether agree with the Bill, as it did not protect consumers in New Zealand, who were compelled to pay Is to Is 2d per pound for butter containing the. large amount of water stated by the Minister. Mr. Hogg pointed out that even 1(1 [-ct cent of water meant that the consumer paying is per pound for butter paid twopence out of tfiat for the water. lie urged that protection should oe given to New Zealand consumers.

Air Laiig pointed out that sottlers who made thuir own butter had not the necessary cooling machinery which would enable them to get ihe water out oi the butter as could be done in factories.

Mr Lewis pointed out that under tlie Pure Food Bill the Government had power to make regulations that would piolect Now Zealand consumers. Alter further discussion tlie second wading was carried, and tlie House went irto committee on tiic Bill.

Mr Masscy said tliat in some portions of the country, particularly in the Auckland pvov»Hee, he \v;w informed, it was impossible to keep the water in butter below 10 per cent. Mr Laurenson moved an amendment lo provide that, '"Anyone commits an otlrm-e who sells, or oilers for saio or export, any butter whieli contains more than 10 per cent, of water." Hon. IX. MoNab pointed out' the 3VOI was not at all a. matter of philanthropy; but butter containing over 10 per cent of water offered for sale in England was punishable by a (ine there, and eases i had come under his notice where butter ch scribed as from New Zealand had been the subject of Police Court prosecu- j lions. I

The amendment was negatived by 64 votes to 10.

The Bill was reported without jn:»?ndment, read a third time, and p^'sed.