RAW MILK IN HEATHCOTE

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28660, 9 August 1958, Page 11

RAW MILK IN HEATHCOTE

Sale By Dairy Proposed Tf Munnings brothers, of Heathcote, are willing to install a small bottling plant at their dairy they can sell their surplus raw milk through a licensed dairy in their own zone. This suggestion by the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. A. Douglas), was adopted yesterday by the Christchurch Metropolitan Milk Board in an effort to meet the wishes of the only raw milk vendor in Christchurch to satisfy customers from other suburbs. “If we allow them to sell outside their zone every other vendor in Christchurch will want the same privileges and the whole zoning system will be upset.’’ said the chairman (Mr R. G. Brown). •'And we don’t want them to bell milk ‘under the counter’ at their own dairy, either.” he added. In emphasising that the brothers were not allowed to sell to persons outside their own zone, said pr. Douglas, he was only drawing their attention to a requirement which bound all milkmen. However, he recommended to them that they consider installing a small bottling plant for their raw milk, as the danger of raw milk being accidentally contaminated after leaving- the can and before reaching the customer was always present. This proposal, made by the medical officer on health grounds, was adopted by the board as a means of assisting the brothers, whose efforts in freeing their herd of tuberculosis and undulant fever has bgen warmly received. It was enabled to do so because it has power to permit any vendor to sell milk wholesale to any licensed dairy shop in his own zone. The other conditions set out in the medical officer’s letter to Munnings brothers were that they agree: Not to obtain raw, or loose pasteurised milk for sale from any other source; To breed their own replacement stock or only buy certificated tuberculosis and undulant fever-free stock from outside; Have their heard tested for both diseases each year; and Have their milk tested regularly, at least every three months. Exceptional Gounds The dispensation was granted ' them, Dr. Douglas told the brothers in his letter, on exceptional grounds. TheSe were that they are producer-vendors serving a small, isolated community on the outskirts df the city; had an, excellent record of quality and cleanliness; their herd was isolated from others and is now free of both tuberculosis and undulant fever; and that it wais both difficult and inconvenient for them to transport their milk Tor pasteurisation. Munnings brothers, in reply to Dr. Douglas, offered three alternatives in an effort to supply outside_.customers.

They suggested that they be permitted to sell to customers “earnest enough to travel for raw milk. This would build our 37 gallons to a more economic level, possibly another six to eight gallons a day.” Further, “if we are restricted to the round only; then the board is morally responsible for all our milk, and should collect and purchase this for the full quota price, as it is of higher standard than any other going into the city supply.” Or “we could extend the round within our area, but this would upset other vendors with whom we have had the best relations over the years.” They considered the first alternative the best. At yesterday’s meeting, T)r. Douglas suggested that, in ‘the meantime, before the brothers installed a bottling plant, anyone wanting raw milk could ask one of the established customers in Heathcote to order enough for both of them. The board took no action'on this proposal. For the milkmen, Mr P. A. Caithness said they would consider the sale through a dairy in the Heathcote zone “quite fair.” No Dairy in Zone The only difficulty he saw, said Mr G. E. Munnings, on being told of the board’s decision, was that there was no licensed dairy in their zone. ‘There are two grocers and a butcher—and I don’t suppose they would be interested,” .be said. “We always thought that if a producer-vendor’s dairy was in his own zone he could sell from his own premises.”