INVESTIGATING A GRIEVANCE 361 



despatched. The same officials were subse- 

 quently to visit North Eastern ports to see how 

 the butter was handled there on arrival ; and, 

 finally, they were to ascertain the corresponding 

 conditions in respect to the Irish product. All 

 this the deputation did, early in 1899, and the 

 report they drew up occupies fifteen pages of 

 printed foolscap, much practical information 

 being given in respect to even the smallest of 

 details. 



The report itself is interesting because it 

 brings out very clearly the difference between 

 home and foreign methods in the consignment 

 of dairy produce, and shows how faults which 

 traders are only too ready to attribute to the 

 railways may. in point of fact, be in no way due 

 to them at all. From Denmark, the deputation 

 found, butter is sent in weekly consignments, in 

 order that exporters can get the advantage of 

 handling, and also of shipping, in large quantities. 

 Three boats, for example, which the officials saw 

 despatched from Copenhagen one Thursday night 

 for Hull, Leith, and Newcastle respectively, 

 conveyed 12,826 casks of butter, the value of 

 which was about 170, 000. Pending the de- 

 spatch of these large weekly cargoes, the butter 

 — in the making of which a good deal of ice has 

 already been used — is put into cooling stores 



