MILK SUPPLY IN CHRISTCHURCH

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27035, 9 May 1953, Page 2

MILK SUPPLY IN CHRISTCHURCH

Aims Of Central Council PASTEURISATION AND Z ONING The conversion of Christchurch to "100 per cent pasteurisation ana tight zoning of vendors is toe aim of the Central Milk Council, which spent three days in Christchurch this week. . i , . In an interview yesterday, the chairman of the council (Mr W. B. Tennent, M.P.) said that in Christchurch only about 58 per cent, of the milk consumed was pasteurised, compared with toe over-all average for toe Dominion of 66 per cent. Mr Tennent also commented on the competition among vendors in Christchurch, where as many as eight vendors had the right to sell milk in one area. This contrasted with the tight zoning in many North Island cities visited by toe council, including Auckland, Wellington. Palmerston North, and Hastings, . . , Medical opinion was overwhelmingly in favour of pasteurisation and the council hoped to see 100 per cent, pasteurisation throughout New Zealand, said Mr Tennent, adding that the council would work towards this object “by education, not by compulsion.” He was pleased to see that the Christchurch Milk Company was planning for 100 per cent, pasteurisation of milk supplied in the city by preparing to install the new plant which would be necessary. Competition between vendors in one area led to Uneconomic dispersion of milk rounds, said Mr Tennent. He had been told that Christchurch ven-

dors had to travel as far as eight or nine miles from one side of their rounds to the other. When the Government was providing an annual subsidy of £2,500,000 on milk means of effecting economies in toe distribution had to be considered. Zoning was discussed by the council with vendors yesterday afternoon, when the vendors' association was invited to submit suggestions to the Christchurch Metropolitan Milk Board. The council also met toe milk board during its visit to Christchurch. The visit had enabled members of the council to make a first-hand study ot Christchurch conditions which woulo be invaluable in its deliberations, said Mr Tennent. He expressed appreciation of the action of the Christchurch City Council in making available a meeting room and other facilities during the council's visit to Christchurch. Other members of the council are Messrs C. J. McFadden (Christchurch). H. Lambie (Auckland), P. T. Jamieson (Palmerston North), producers’ representatives; Mr L. August (Lower Hutt), vendors’ representative: Mr W. J. Rogers (Wanganui), treatment stations’ representative; and Dr. Muriel Bell (Dunedin), representing women and children, who is overseas at present.

Mr Tennent left Christchurch by air last evening, and most of the other members were passengers on the steamer express.