292 FRAUDULENT COMPETITION 



and made a number of definite recommendations, chief among 

 these being the prohibition of the colouring of margarine in 

 imitation of butter, and the mixing of margarine with butter. 

 The Council considered this report in November, 1896, 

 Warmly approved its recommendations and requested the 

 Government to legislate in the direction indicated as early 

 as possible. 



1897. 



In 1897 the Royal Commission on Agriculture issued its 

 report, and among many other recommendations was one in 

 favour of the proposals of the Select Committee of 1896 being 

 given effect to by legislation. In February the Council 

 expressed regret that this subject was not referred to in the 

 Queen's Speech, and asked the President of the Board of 

 Agriculture to receive a deputation. Mr. Walter Long inter- 

 viewed this deputation on 2nd March, when he said that he 

 was much impressed by the views put before him " by gentle- 

 men representing such totally different interests," and that 

 a Bill on the subject was " on the stocks." 



In November the Dairy Products (late the Margarine) 

 Committee reported that the Government had introduced 

 their Bill on 2nd August and withdrawn it on 5th August. 

 They added that this Bill only partially embodied the recom- 

 mendations of the Select Committee, and was totally inade-. 

 quate ; that a new Bill should at least give effect to the 

 following recommendations of the Select Committee : 



The establishment of a Court of Reference. 



The examination of dairy produce at the ports. 



Prohibition of artificial colouring. 



Prohibition of mixing margarine with butter for sale. 



The Dairy Products Committee said that they failed to 

 find any justification for the disregard shown for the recom- 

 mendations of the Select Committee, and again urged that 

 effect should be given to them. 



Speaking at a meeting of the National Agricultural Union 

 in December of this year, Mr. Kearley, M.P. (afterwards Lord 

 Devonport) said : 



