The Daily News SATURDAY, AUGUST 28. MOISTURE IN BUTTER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 175, 28 August 1909, Page 2

The Daily News SATURDAY, AUGUST 28. MOISTURE IN BUTTER.

We do not agree with those who regard as an injustice the recent prosecution by the Government of buttcr-makcis and exporters for having exported bo. Icr containing more than the maximum of sixteen per cent, of water allowed by law. In this particular industry the Government has wisely assumed a guardianship of its interests, the opeialion of which has and must continue to ' result in nothing but good to the producers. Practically our only outeidc market for dairy produce is the UniUd Kingdom, and "whether we like it or not, we must conform to the Imperial Government's regulation* governing the constituent of 'butter. The English Butter and Margarine Act which came into lieu- un the Ist January, li>oß, provide.! ... Jie registration and inspecItiou t . ..-1,. ,er factories, prohibits the use oi :.ui lurants in the factories, and Ilmiiis ...i' proportion of moisture allowed 10 10 per cent, in the case of butter and margarine, and to 24 pir cent, in the case of milk-blended butter. The Act prohibits the importation to the United Kingdom oi butter, margarine, or milk-blended buuer containing moisture in exeess of the above per--11 centages; the importation of lnilk-bleud- ■ ed butter except in packages eonspicugi ously marked with a named approved by B the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries; 31 and the importation of butter, margarB Inc. or milk-blended butter containing a B preservative prohibited by any regu'.aH tion under the Act, or an amount o[ preservative in excess of what is allowed. A dealer in margarine is prohibited from describing it on the wrapper, package or label by aay name other than margarine, or a name approved by the Board of Agriculture. I'inaMy, mil legended butter shall be dealt with trade] the conditions applicable to margarine, except that when the article is delivered 111 a wrapper the percentage of moisture shall be set out on the wrapper. It ie perfectly clear, therefore, that were the law in England strictly enforced—as it will no doubt be henceforth—the buttei that was the subject of this week's prosecutions in Xew Plymouth should hav: been confiscated, or - otherwise dealt with in terms of the penal clauses oi the Art by the British Board of Agriculture. It seems almost certain, however. that a reasonable amount of latitude was allowed during the first year of the operation of the new Act, but it would be disastrous to the industry in Sew Zealand were further advantagewilful or accidental—to be taken of this apparent laxity. In conformity with the English Act, the Mew Zealand Export of Butter Act, 1111)7, wa« passed, rendering liable to a line not exceeding f.30 any person "who exports or attempts to export any butter which contains more than sixteen per cent, of water." Everyone who is at all conversant with the industry knows that, a strong attempt was recently made in certain quarters to prejudice New Zealand butter, and influence the market both here and in the Old Country, oil account' of the alleged excess of moisture. That portion of the butter exported from the , Dominion during the season violated the provisions of the Acts governing moisture cannot be doubted, but that the practise was at all genernl is contrary to fact. Unfortunately, however, it is only necessary to alford t-.oiiu 1 justification for complaint to imperii the high standing of our produce. From a wholesale '• throwing of mud," some of it is certain to stick, and in an industry of such vital importance to the Dominion, it is vitally essential that no cause should be given to "throw mud." That is exactly what the Xe»w Zealand Governinent is striving to ensure, and we have not the slightest doubt that their object will, as the result of 'the recent prosecutions in various parts of the Dominion, be attained. There may be some reason for the '-' it of Cxpoifurs that the makeix of excessive moisture butter should lie held liaole, but it seems to us fli.it llie exporters 2nd agents have the rwuiedy in th'ir own hands. In buying on the arade note, they need only buy subject, to ;l maximum moisture, and thus indemnify themselves against possible on the latter score. The Government Agricultural Department must be held to some j ► extent responsible for the loss of mpu- I

tation of New Zealand butter in (lie 1 Home markets. I'mler tlie syste m at present universally obtaining,' the oflieer« of the CJrading Department are almost iiloiio aware when (here is an ;.v----eess of moisture in butter graded bv lliem for export. In allowing such butter to go forward, and in .-oine eases as "lirst grade." we consider (lie Department is morally guilty nf an offence as an accessory. Tn the interests of the industry, it would be well if the moisture, content, of all butter passin" through the grading Stores were clearly f shomi on the grading note. This would produce an immediate check on thos« makers who, to nay the least of it, sail over-close to the wlad, to the detriment of others who sell butter, and not water and butter. There is another direction in which it seems to us the Act stands i n need of amendment. ]f it is not good lljat the English consumer should have to pay for more than lli per cent, of water when buying butter, how can it be considered honest trading to impose on the Xew Zealand consumer by selling hi m so-called butter containing. as is known to be the case, up to 2:1 per cent, of water? In other words, is it honest to charge tlie consumer threepence for four ounces of natci? Me think not. and the sfloii"r the public realise that in this respfct there are certain lnitier- makers in the Dominion who systematically "rob" them to thai extent, the sooner will he ' industry be permanently established oa a footing that will defy ajiy attempt t" injure it. With regard to the possibility of diiry Jac.tc\ics testing their ; production for moisture, and to the j means to be adopted to deal with execs- | "ive moisture in butter from private 'intone* and farms where there are not appliances for first-class production, we propose to deal in a later article, j The factories have no excuse fur allow- f ing too much water to be in tlie blltto"; I the farmer who must perfofce churn at ' home is i n a less enviable position. (