THE CITY'S MILK

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 21, 24 July 1918, Page 3

THE CITY'S MILK

ANOTHER SCHEME BROUGHT DOWN

BACKED BY COUNTRY STATIONS

"BLOCK" SYSTEM OF SUPPLY

WITH THE PRESENT VENDORS.

The recommendations of the City Council's Milk Supply Committee are, in brief, as under :—

The erection of two receiving' -stations, one in the Wairarapa, one in the Manawatu.' The purchase of the Fresh Food and Ice ■ Company's property in Dixonstreet.

The distribution of milk in Wellington by the council's own employees, on the "blocik" system. The introduction of the coupon system. Present vendors to be utilised. The full report of the committee was laid yesterday afternoon before a special meeting of the City Council, which was attended by the Mayor (Mr. .1. P. Luke, ■C.M.G.. M.P.) and Councillors W. H. P. Barber, A. R. Atkinson, W. H. Bennett, J. Castle, J. E. Fitzgerald, W. T. Hildreth, E. A. Wright, M.P., M. F. Luckie, L. M'Kcnzie, C. B. Norwood. J. 0. Shorland, and W. J. Thompson. As soon as the council met, the Mayor moved that it go into committee for tho consideration of the report. Tho sitting in committee lasted for over two and a half hours, and it was tTfen announced to the press that the committee's report had been adopted.

It "was also announced tliat the following motion, proposed by the Mayor, had not been adopted :—

(I) That the council resolve to take tho necessary powers to become the wholesale purchaser of the whole of the

milk for distribution in the city. . (2) That for the purpose of giving effect to the aforesaid resolution, the council purcha.se the property of the Fresh Food and Ice Company. (3) That the Milk Enquiry Committee bo authorised to secure the appointment of a general manager . for the council's milk supply service. THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT

The committee was set up on 4th April of this year, and in its report it states that it^has studied the milk problem in all its bearings, and has made careful enquiries in all the four principal towns in New Zealand. The main effect of its recommendations, outlined above, are given in fuller detail below :— ■ COUNTRY STATIONS. The committee recommends the erection of a receiving station, or, if found necessary, two stations, one on each line —Wairarapa and Manawatu—in the largest milk-producing centre. The station should be adjacent to the railway and beside a plentiful water supply; this station to take all the available milk which can be produced within the economic radius of supply. The purposes of this station will be :— (1) To act as a governor upon the supply of .milk, to the city; that is to say, the near milk raised in the area on the city side of Paekakariki and Itimutaka' Ranges, including Wainui-o-mata Valley, will be known from day to day, and the surplus to make up the total required daily for the city purposes only, will be made up from the country station. The balance of the milk not required for. city purposes will be made up into butter, ■ /cheese, and cream, which will have its

commercial value and can be sold at

the, City Council's milk shops. The committee believes that the city roundsman may be allowed to sell these products to the householders 1 on the commission basis, and thus make his own position more attractive for him. .

(2) As the milk coming from a distance will require more careful treatment than the near milk, on account of the unavoidable increase in time between the cow and the consumer, the milk must be clarified, and, if necessary, pasteurised before the growth of bacteria can get any way on. (3)_ As the council's receiving station, is in the midst of the farmers, its management will be in closer touch

with them. The committee, has ,in mind a way by which a premium can be given to the farmer to bring his , herds, milking yards, dairy, and methods up to a state of efficiency which is recognised to be pure and , healthy. ■■ . , ' Negotiations are now proceeding relative to the above scheme and subject to confirmation Tiy the council. The council, however, is not asked to do more at the present than to approve the principle, and no commitments will be made without the full concurrence, of the council. • " CENTRAL CITY STATION. . The committee recommends the erection of a central, city station, designed and fitted with the most up-to-date machinery to reduce labour to a minimum, and large enough to serve the city for many years to come. The committee, however, recognises that this cannot be economically carried out until after the war, and as the present milk situation requires prompt action, it recommends the purchase of the Fresh Food and Ice Company's property.in Dixon-street. The .property has been carefully examined, and the committee does not regard it as suitable for a permanent station, but believes it will, with slight alterations, fulfil the immediate requirements. Negotiations between the committee and ■flic liquidator of the Fresh Food and Ice Company have been completed, and the council is now asked to sanction the purchase. The price is regarded by the committee as very favourable, and, even if it is discarded a.s a milk .station in two years' time, there will be no loss lo the city, "as the scheme for distribution provides a small reserve to meet contingencies of this kind. DISTRIBUTION BY PRESENT • VENDORS. Tlie committee recommends the distribution of the milk by its own employees in the "block" system ; the introduction >i the coupon system with the object of •iiminating bad debts; the erection of üb-stations at convenient points in the 'ifcy. for more local distribution. Under the heading "Present Vendors," lie committee recommended that the vendors should, have .security of tenure !'or two years on the following terms :— (1) Each vendor to receive a block ■in the new system, requiring milk equivalent in volunie to that amount which he is supplying to the public at the time the council takes over the control. (2) The vendor to secure the advantage of the coupon system. (3) The vendor to purchase his milk frfim the council a.t a. price which allows him a living profit and allows the council a sure profit after all expenses are accounted for. (4) At tho end- of each year, when the balance is found after allowing for all charges including finking fund, interest, depreciation and the provision of a reserve of, say, 2£ per cent, upon the turn-over (the latter is a provision, for any loss that may anso In taking up the temporary City Milk <

f>tnticm), the wholo. of Ilie bohinc standing; to profit, to be distributed i.-qually among the vendors in proportion to the pmoimi. of rri^k delivered to thr> publrs Viv each respective vendor. (5) It. is uKiiiiMted that tl;e economy

Kirsod by blocking, elimination of bad Jen Is, and profi!" cii by-products, will realise at least one penny per gallon, i and in t-lio course of two years the vendor will, if the above estimates are realised, receivw liriunaes i-qiinl >o *li« full compensation recognised by the franc at the f.resort time for the pur';lia.sii and sale of milk rounds including plant. (6) The council will be under no obligation to the vendor at the end of two years, but may purchase a-t valuation, such part of his plant- asthe council ma-y require. THE MANAGEMENT. The committee also expressed the opinion that a general manager and an assistant manager will be required to run the scheme. The general manager should be a commercial man, preferably wilh engineering experience, but the' committee did not think it essential that he should necessarily bean expert in the milk business or know much about it. The assistant general manager should have an intimate knowledge of the milk business and the treatment of by-pro-ducts. It also recommended the immediate appointment of an assistant general manager.