ADULTERATION OF BUTTER 293 



" Adulteration in these days was conducted on scientific lines 

 it was not a mere vulgar sanding of the sugar but something 

 far more able than that. . . . We must set up a scientific 

 body to counteract the skill of these frauds. The struggle that 

 was going on between the inventors of armour plates and the 

 inventors, of armour-piercing projectiles was illustrative of what- 

 ought to go on between adulterators and their detectives." 



1898. 



The Parliamentary Committee met the day that Parlia- 

 ment opened, and passed a resolution expressing satisfaction 

 that this subject was referred to in the Queen's Speech, and 

 members of this Committee impressed its importance upon 

 Ministers. On 4th April the Council regretted that no Bill 

 was yet forthcoming, and arranged for local Chambers to 

 send up petitions to the Government urging prompt action 

 in the matter. On 3rd May a deputation from the Council, 

 supported by other agricultural associations, waited upon 

 Mr. Chaplin (President of the Local Government Board), 

 but they had to report to the Council that, while Mr. Chaplin 

 gave consideration to their views, his reply was disappointing. 



On 22nd July Mr. Chaplin introduced his Agricultural 

 Products (Adulteration) Bill, but it was almost immediately 

 withdrawn. It was confined to dairy products, but fell short 

 of the demands made by the deputation in May, and only 

 embodied a few of the recommendations of the Select Com- 

 mittee. In November the Dairy Products Committee 

 examined the provisions of the Bill at some length, object- 

 ing to some of them and emphasising their previously stated 

 demand for the prohibition of the colouring of margarine. 



1899. 



The Government introduced their Sale of Food and Drugs 

 Bill on 23rd February. On 28th March the Council adopted 

 a report from their Committee approving generally of the 

 Bill, but setting out in detail certain amendments which they 

 required. Most of these were embodied in the Bill while it 

 was in Committee, but, in spite of every effort the Govern- 

 ment refused to prohibit the artificial colouring of margarine 



