CITY MILK SUPPLY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21906, 6 October 1936, Page 15

CITY MILK SUPPLY

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS, Sir,— Although the proposals for a reorganisation of our city milk supply have not, so far, been made public in their entirety, enough has been published to create the impression that the present agitation is being engineered by the large distributors tor the main purpose of eventually eliminating the small man, thus* in time, obtaining for themselves a virtual monopoly of the milk business. As one who has been engaged in ithe sale of milk in Christchurch for the last 26 years (excepting . two spent at the war)* I should like to mention ■ a few facts hot generally realised. Dotted around the borders of out city, Within four to five miles of Cathedral square, are the dairy farms of the small producers. These people milk their herds between the hours of 3.30. a.m. and 5.30 a.m.; the milk being Immediately cooled and delivery commenced to customers before it is two hours old. To supply fresher milk than this, the cows themselves would need •to be driven round to the customers’ dobrs. Compare this with the large distributors in some -towns who receive -their supplies by train, motor-truck, etc,, from farms miles away from their delivery centres.. In many cases this milk arrives at the depots too late. Of course, for the current day’s supply. It is therefore pasteurised, cooled, bottled and put in cold storage for -delivery the following morning, it being by then, anything up-to 24 hours ■■oldi■. * This all goes to show that should the small mdn be ousted from business in our city, then real fresh morning’s milk will bid fair to become an unknown quantum as far as Christchurch is concerned. I trust the City . Council will make full enquiries before sanctioning such a questionably beneficial scheme as the one which Is about to be submitted to them for their consideration and approval,—Yours, etc,; LIQUID MEAT. :* October 5, 1936.