This Act is a consolidation of the enactments mentioned in the Schedule hereto, and with respect to those enactments the following provisions shall apply:—

Savings.

(a.)

All appointments, licenses, regulations, orders, registers, instruments, and generally all acts of authority which originated under any of the said enactments, and are subsisting or in force on the coming into operation of this Act, shall enure for the purposes of this Act as fully and effectually as if they had originated under the corresponding provisions of this Act, and accordingly shall, where necessary, be deemed to have so originated.

(b.)

All matters and proceedings commenced under any such enactment, and pending or in progress on the coming into operation of this Act, may be continued, completed, and enforced under this Act.

2 Interpretation.

1895, No. 27, sec. 2

In this Act, if not inconsistent with the context,—

“Butter-fat” means the pure fat of cows’ milk:

“Margarine” includes all substances, whether compound or not, prepared or manufactured from any form of animal fats (other than butter-fat or milk), or of animal, mineral, or vegetable oils, and capable of being used as a substitute for butter.

3 Who may prepare margarine.

Ibid, sec. 3

(1.)

It shall not be lawful to prepare or manufacture margarine, except in pursuance of a license to be granted under this Act by the Minister of Agriculture.

(2.)

Every such license—

(a.)

Shall continue in force for one year only, but may be renewed from year to year; and

(b.)

Shall be subject to the provisions of this Act.

(3.)

There shall be paid in respect of the grant of each license, and of each annual renewal thereof, the fee of one pound.

4 Illegal acts.

1895, No. 27, sec. 4

It shall not be lawful—

(a.)

To mix, colour, stain, or powder margarine with any ingredient or material so as to imitate butter; nor

(b.)

To mix margarine with butter, butter-fat, or milk; nor

(c.)

To manufacture, sell, or offer for sale as butter any margarine or other substance which contains or with which are mixed any animal fats, or animal, mineral, or vegetable oils, or extraneous butter-fat or oil; nor

(d.)

To export or attempt to export margarine, unless the same is distinctly shipped and invoiced as margarine.

5 Packages, how branded.

Ibid, sec. 5

A manufacturer of margarine shall cause every package containing margarine to be distinctly and durably branded or marked “Margarine” on the top and on one side, in printed capital letters not less than one and a half inches square, before the same leaves his premises.

6 Punishment of offences.

Ibid, sec. 6

(1.)

Every person who commits a breach of any of the provisions of the three last preceding sections of this Act is liable to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds, and if he is the holder of a license under this Act the license may be forfeited.

(2.)

If any person ships or attempts to ship for export from New Zealand any margarine in breach of any of the provisions of the said three preceding sections, then, in addition to the fine hereinbefore prescribed, the margarine may be seized by any officer of Customs, and shall be forfeited to the Crown, and sold, or otherwise disposed of as the Minister of Customs directs.

7 All wrappers to be marked.

Ibid, sec. 7

(1.)

Every person who sells margarine by either wholesale or retail, save in a package branded or marked as aforesaid, shall deliver such margarine to the purchaser in or with a wrapper on which is distinctly printed “Margarine” in capital letters not less than a quarter of an inch square.

(2.)

Every person who commits a breach of this section is liable to a fine not exceeding one pound.

8 Governor may appoint Inspectors

Ibid, sec. 8

The Governor may from time to time appoint such Inspectors and other officers as he deems necessary for the administration of this Act.

9 Inspectors’ powers.

Ibid, sec. 9

Every Inspector and other officer appointed under “The Dairy Industry Act, 1908,” shall be deemed to be appointed under this Act, and shall have and may exercise for the purposes of this Act all the powers and authorities conferred on them by that Act.

10 Regulations.

Ibid, sec. 10

(1.)

The Governor may from time to time, by Order in Council gazetted, make regulations prescribing—

(a.)

The conditions and restrictions subject to which any license under this Act shall be granted, and for the breach of which it may be forfeited:

(b.)

The powers and duties of Inspectors and other officers appointed under this Act:

(c.)

All such other matters and things as he deems necessary in order to give full effect to the provisions of this Act.

(2.)

In and by such regulations the Governor in Council may impose a fine not exceeding fifty pounds for the breach of any such regulation, and such fine may be irrespective of and additional to the forfeiture of the license.

Schedule Enactments consolidated.

1895, No. 27,—“The Margarine Act, 1895.”

Margarine Act 1908