POLITICAL POINTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 216, 18 October 1909, Page 4

POLITICAL POINTS.

"The prosecutions in regard to moisture iu butter in the Taranaki district are anything but a credit to the Department," said Mr. Oki-y (Taran&Kij, in the course of his speech on Wednesday. Mr. Okey said that ]>eople wlio-ie butter had bei'n graded .first-class we'e afterwards prosecuted on a charge that it contained over 10 per -ceai-t. of moisture. They had no chance to dispute the matter for when the samples weie taken the Department did not send on ■a sample to the persons conoernel. Alter live .months had elapsed they were brought before the Court, arid by that time t'lic.v were not able -to bring evidence to disprove .the charge, aud there, fore had to plead guilty, by the advice of their solicitor. Mr. Okey referred to anotflier vase in which he claimed that there had been injustice, and urged that something should by done, by the House so that tlie purchasers of buffer should not have to ,-run the risk of the -liutt'T being shipped Home with over lli per cent, of -moisture.

-Mr. Okey in'teiuls to ask tllic Government whether it is a fact that 'Sir Robert Stout, as chairman of the Native Lauds Commission, has received £I2BO honorarium and £SBO travelling expense's, as shown 'in Return B.—l, in addition to his salary pi ,£2OOO a fear and travelling expenses as- Chief Justice.

Mr. Jennings -wishes 'to know from thj Minister for Agriculture whether he will furnish to the .House the reason why -the- Department instituted proceedings against certain linns and .settlers iu Aucklaud a.nd Taranaki for butter containing an undue proportion of nioislure, and then in .some ea.scte 'withdrew the prosecution, while others were lined and mulcted in heavy costs.