Ef)e Commontoealtf) of 0isiiiat\)\iittti 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER 



recommendations for legislation 

 Amendment to the Law Relative to Oleomargarine 



The General Laws relative to butter, cheese and their imitations, in- 

 cluding oleomargarine, as found in chapter 94, sections 49-63, inclusive, 

 have retained in most respects their original form for a period approxi- 

 mating fifty years, and several important changes have taken place in the 

 manufacture and distribution of these food products during this time 

 which would appear to necessitate some slight change in the law. The 

 common use among the manufacturers of oleomargarine, of cartons or 

 wrappers for incasing prints, bricks or rolls of oleomargarine in con- 

 venient sizes for sale purposes, would necessitate a slight change in the 

 size of letters contained in the brand or marks on the carton or wrapper. 

 Section 49, chapter 94 of the General Laws, provides that each stamp, 

 label or mark shall be in printed letters in a straight line of plain, un- 

 condensed gothic type, not less than one-half inch in length. The Federal 

 law provides that "cartons shall be branded on the two principal panels 

 with the word oleomargarine in plain gothic letters of not less than 

 twenty point type." "Twenty point type" measures slightly over one- 

 quarter inch in length. It would be impossible, with the average size 

 carton, which is convenient for sales purposes, to comply strictly with the 

 Massachusetts law and print upon the carton the word oleomargarine, in 

 printed letters of uncondensed gothic type, not less than one-half inch in 

 length. 



It would seem desirable at this time to change section 49, chapter 94 

 of the General Laws, to conform with the Federal law, in order that a 

 specially branded or marked carton will not be required of the manufac- 

 turer for sale and distribution in Massachusetts. The carton containing 

 the word oleomargarine in plain, gothic letters of not less than twenty 

 point type will emphasize sufficiently the fact that the product is not but- 

 ter and will satisfy the intent of the law in so far as the requirement of 

 "special notice to the buyer" is concerned. It would also seem desirable 

 to amend section 55 for the purpose of clarifying the law. 



It is, therefore, recommended that sections 49 and 55 of chapter 94 of 

 the General Laws be amended so as to make our law more uniform with 

 respect to the Federal oleomargarine laws. 



Other Agricultural Legislation 



This Department in cooperation with other farm agencies gives con- 

 sideration to all legislation of interest to farmers of Massachusetts pre- 

 sented to the Legislature. Hearings are frequently arranged and repre- 

 sentatives of the Department of Agriculture pit in with the farmers and 

 discuss their various problems, the solution of which requires some legis- 

 lative action. The department approves -and encourages only legislation 

 that is designed to better the farming conditions in the State and it is 

 often important and necessary that present laws relating to agriculture 

 be amended or revised in order to clarify the law and enable the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture to enforce the law with greater efficiency and effec- 

 tiveness. 



Laws enacted during the recent session of the Legislature of direct in- 

 terest to agriculture include the following: revision of the apple grading 

 law — the word "standard" has been eliminated from the designation of 

 Massachusetts grades and instead of Massachusetts Staijdard A, the 

 apple packer will now be permitted to mark this grade of apple "Massa- 



