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Section 32. The chemical and microscopic tests which the inspector may deem requisite shall, in the event of their being not carried out at the locality concerned, be carried out so far as possible in the analytical chemical laboratories authorized by the Government for the examination of comestibles, or in the economical laboratory for experimental tests. Samples taken out for ascertaining the heating of the milk -shall always be taken out in the dairy itself; in case of the test not being carried out at the locality concerned, the samples must not be removed from the dairy except in sealed receptacles. Further regulations governing the taking and examination of the samples shall be laid down by the Minister of Agriculture. The necessary means for carrying out such tests, and for covering the expenses incurred by the enforcement of the present law shall be granted in the annual financial budgets. Section 33. This law, which does not apply to the Faroe Islands, shall come into force six months after the notification of the law in the Lovtidende (the legislative gazette); but the stipulations in sections 3, 7, 9 (fifth paragraph), and the penalties for the infringement of these sections, shall enter into force at once. By the introduction of the present law, the Law No. 64 of the 30th March, 1906, concerning trade in and importation and exportation of agricultural produce, and sections 6, 9, 21, in Law No. 92 of the 19th April, 1907, concerning the manufacturing of, and trade in, margarine, &c, shall be abrogated so far as the regulations fixed for butter in the said sections are concerned, and also so far as the penalties laid down for infringement of the regulations fixed for butter in sections 22, 23, and 24 in the same law are concerned.*)

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, and, by direction of the Secretary of State, transmits herewith copy of the undermentioned paper. The newspaper extract has been sent to the Board of Trade in original. ;: -Foreign Office, 16th September, 1911. Name and Date. Subject. Sir F. Bertie (Paris)— No. 256, Commercial .. Increase in price of food. [Similar letter sent to Boards of Trade and Agriculture.] Sir,— Paris, Bth September, 1911. With reference to my despatch, No. 250, Commercial, of the 2nd instant, I have the honour to transmit to you an extract from the Matin of this day, giving the decisions come to at the meeting of the French Cabinet yesterday with regard to the best mode of meeting the difficulties which have arisen from the increase in the price of articles of food. It is stated that it was resolved to issue decrees dealing with the following matters :— (1.) The importation of cattle from the colonies : Algeria is the only colony which at present supplies sheep for the French market, but it is hoped that by the new arrangement the importation of cattle of all kinds from Senegal, Madagascar, and New Caledonia will be encouraged. (2.) The importation of cattle from foreign countries :It is proposed to remove the restrictions placed on the importation of cattle from the Argentine Republic, Australia, Canada, &c, so that the quantity may be increased in the event of the French colonies not being able to supply sufficient for the requirements of consumption. (3.) The establishment of special bonded warehouses (entrepots fi,ctifs) for the storage of frozen meats. Only one of these warehouses—in Paris—at present exists. It is proposed to establish them at the chief French ports. (4.) Facilities for the transport of fish and agricultural produce. The railway companies will be called on to reduce their rates, and to provide cold-storage cars. The weight allowed for postal parcels will also be increased. (5.) Transport of forage : Hitherto there has been a practical bounty on the export of forage. This will be suppressed, and the freight will be the same on forage exported as on forage carried within the country. The above measures will be taken at once, but there does not appear to be any intention to lower the Customs tariff on articles of food, though there is a strong feeling in many quarters that this is the only step that will bring about a reduction in their existing cost. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. Francis Bertie.

[Similar letter sent to Boards of Trade and Agriculture.] Sib,— Paris, Bth September, 1911. With reference to my despatch, No. 250, Commercial, of the 2nd instant, I have the honour to transmit to you an extract from the Matin of this day, giving the decisions come to at the meeting of the French Cabinet yesterday with regard to the best mode of meeting the difficulties which have arisen from the increase in the price of articles of food. It is stated that it was resolved to issue decrees dealing with the following matters : — (1.) The importation of cattle from the colonies : Algeria is the only colony which at present supplies sheep for the French market, but it is hoped that by the new arrangement the importation of cattle of all kinds from Senegal, Madagascar, and New Caledonia will be encouraged. (2.) The importation of cattle from foreign countries : It is proposed to remove the restrictions placed on the importation of cattle from the Argentine Republic, Australia, Canada, &c, so that the quantity may be increased in the event of the French colonies not being able to supply sufficient for the requirements of consumption. (3.) The establishment of special bonded warehouses (entrepots fictifs) for the storage of frozen meats. Only one of these warehouses —in Paris —at present exists. It is proposed to establish them at the chief French ports. (4.) Facilities for the transport of fish and agricultural produce. The railway companies will be called on to reduce their rates, and to provide cold-storage cars. The weight allowed for postal parcels will also be increased. (5.) Transport of forage : Hitherto there has been a practical bounty on the export of forage. This will be suppressed, and the freight will be the same on forage exported as on forage carried within the country. The above measures will be taken at once, but there does not appear to be any intention to lower the Customs tariff on articles of food, though there is a strong feeling in many quarters that this is the only step that will bring about a reduction in their existing cost. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. Francis Bertie.

* Section 4 in Law No. 70, of the 27th April, 1894, concerning penalties for the use of incorrect description of goods, has been abolished by section 12 in Law No. 64, of the 30th March, 1906, concerning trade in and importation and exportation of- agricultural produce.

15—A. 2.

Name and Date. Subject. 3ir V. Bertie (Paris) —No. 256, Commercial Increase in price of food.