MILK SUPPLY FOR CITY

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23447, 30 September 1941, Page 6

MILK SUPPLY FOR CITY

Herd Inspection Wanted COUNCIL’S ATTITUDE The anxiety of the council to see that dairy herds providing milk for city consumers are rigidly inspected was emphasised by councillors at the meeting of the Christchurch City Council last evening. The council unanimously approved of a letter sent to the Department of Agriculture by the reserves and abattoir committee urging this rigid inspection. Mention was made, during the discussion, of the election pledges of the Citizens’ Association. That the letter had been sent to the department, asking for a rigid inspection of herds, was reported by the chairman of the committee (Cr. J. N. Clarke), replying to a question by Cr. C. D. W. L, Sheppard. He read the letter. Cr. M. E. Lyons said it was essential to see that the milk supply for the city was sound at its source, but that was a matter in which the council must receive the co-operation of the Government. He was very much in favour of a rigid inspection of herds. “I was wondering what the election pledges of the Citizens’ Association members on that side of the table were for the milk supply for the city,” said Cr. H. E. Denton. “Was it not for a rigid inspection? But so far all I can see is that the council is once again putting the onus on the Government. It is not only the source of supply that should worry us. A certain van was pointed out to me the other morning in a disgraceful state. It looked as though it had been used for carting produce round the farm. It was not in a fit state for carting milk about the city. I would like to see a little more time spent on the inspection of the methods of the delivery of milk.” Cr. Denton added that time and again he had also protested about the surroundings of some dairies on farms—some were surrounded by mud and filth, by a quagmire, simply because the dairy farmers could not find the capital for drainage. That needed attention, too. Cr. M. McLean: We appreciate Cr. Denton’s .references to our election pledges; but can he remember the pledges of 1938. The councillors who made the pledges he referred to have been here for three months. They will sec that the milk supply of the city is a little better than the other council left it after its three years. “Should Be Compulsory” “We want the raw milk from the herds tested,” Cr. Sheppard Said. “We want that testing made a compulsory thing. We know that at present it is voluntary: that some of the milk is received here, pasteurised, and sold as first grade milk. At present the Department of Agriculture has control up to the gates, but has no compulsory powers, and the council’s desire is to ensure a fresh supply of milk.” He would go further, Cr. Sheppard said, and say that all persons handling the milk should be subjected to a medical examination. Cr. F. S. Wilding: Is there any information of the Government’s intentions for the inspection of herds? Cr. Sheppard: Public opinion will do it. The Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) said that the letter had been sent on, and it was hoped it would have an effect. The letter stated the policy of the Citizens’ Association in the last election. He took it that the committee had not overlooked the inspection of dairies and vans. But that was in the council’s hands and might mean more inspectors. The council, however, was trying to get the Department of Agriculture to ensure the rigid inspection of cows—to see that the herds supplying milk to the city were healthy. Cr. Lyons said that, had he seen a van in a disgraceful condition, he would not have let an hour go by before informing an inspector. Cr. Denton: We want more: inspectors. You know that. Cr. Lyons, referring to election pledges, said: We will do everything possible to improve the milk supply of the city, particularly at its source. The judgment of the committee is that one of the best things to do is to secure a more rigorous inspection of herds, and that the inspection of herds ought to be compulsory. At the moment it is not competent for the council to send inspectors on to the farms where the milk is produced. That is the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture. The Health Department shares, with us, the responsibility for the inspection of the means of distribution. The city’s milk supply was mentioned again later in the meeting, when Cr. McLean gave notice of a question. She asked for a report on the reasons for the disparity in the wholesale and retail prices of milk.