THE ONLY WAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 95, 23 April 1928, Page 9

THE ONLY WAY.

PASTEURISATION OF MILK.

WELLINGTON EXPERT

RETURNS.

data gathered abroad.

Having been abroad for six months to investigate on behalf of the Wellington City Council the latest conditions relating to modern whole-milk-plants, there returned by the Niagara to-day, Mr. R. E. Herron, general manager of the Municipal Milk Department in Wellington. Mr. Herron is also well known in musical circles as chairman of the committee of the Wellington Royal/ Musical Union. He will leave Auckland by Main Trunk express to-night.

Mr. Herron has. returned with very complete data which he gathered in Great Britain, Canada and the United States concerning the best machinery available, and the manner in which it should be used at the station which shortly ie to be opened in Wellington. To a representative of the "Auckland Star," he said that of the countries visited the United States is farthest in advance in the scientific testing, treatment and bottling of milk for human consumption. I# all large cities there the bottling of milk is made compulsory. Furthermore, pasteurisation is almost universally practised. Safe for Consumption. "In the States," said Mr. Herron, "I found the health authorities to be overwhelmingly in favour of pasteurisation. They consider that only by such means ian milk be made safe for human consumption. Health officials see that the milk is held for 30 minutes at a tempearture of 145 degree Fahr., which is the standard at present adhered to in the, Wellington Municipal Department.

Speaking of conditions in Britain, Mr. Herron said that until five years or so ago the Old Country was very backward in the control of its milk supply, but she was now rapidly getting into line with the United States. The general practice in the United States and Canada was for whole milk to be appraised in value upon its weight and butterfat contents, and for the price payable to be based upon the monthly prices curren for butter, cheese, etc., throughout the calendar year, except that, as in the case of Wellington, a substantial addition to the price otherwise payable was made during the winter seasons, because of extra feeding costs entailed in the production. Sold By Liquid Gallon. In England, however, milk was almost universally sold and purchased by the liquid gallon, and the effect over a period of years had been tc* lower the quality. In that respect the supply in Great Britain compared unfavourably with the whole milk markets in the United States.

"In the States," said Mr. Herron, ,'1 was not able to find any milk supply that was superior to the supply in my department, which for many years has purchased upon weight • and butterfat content, and sent it to consumers in the condition received." Mr. Herron ' conthat the Wellington system is superior to all other systems in its use of the sediment or diet test. The tendency in all of the countries which I visited," he added, "is for the milk supply to be in the hands of large dairy companies, who are able to make the necessary provision for testing and grading, and to hold by the aid of refrigeration." It was now being realised, Mr. Herron continued, that the best results were obtained by separating the business of producing milk from that of its treatment, sale and distribution. In Britain the many co-operative societies were successfully entering into the whole milk business, and, with their large membership, they had little difficulty 1 in securing an extensive share in the trade of the city. The smaller dairymen, therefore, were having a hard time. "During my travels abroad," said Mr. Herron, "I was unable to find pasture equal in quality to that available in the best dairying districts in New Zealand, and this fact, I consider, supplies the main reason for the comparative success of New Zealand'producers of butter and cheese in the principal markets of the world."

It was good news for Mr. Herron to learn on arrival in Auckland that a profit of £9175 for the year was shown, after allowing for higher payments to producers, increased wages and reductions to customers. He is eagerly looking forward I to applying the data he has gathered to the future auccess of hie department.