CITY COUNCIL'S MILK SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 284, 20 August 1918, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL'S MILK SCHEME

"GOING RIGHT AHEAD!"

✓ MAJORITY . OF BIG " VENDORS FAVOUR COMPANY SCHEME.

Up till noon yesterday the milk vendors of Wellington were given the chance af saying whether they were willing to work in with tho City Council's Adopted schciuo of milk distributon. They were given'two alternatives: To say (I) whether they favoured the company scheme, or (2) th'i direct contract (between the council and the individual vendor) scheme. Those ho failed to reply at all will not now bp ));■>)miU-.'d to participate in either schcme, unless, perhaps, by. special dispensation of ihe Milk Committee.

When interviewed after noon, Councillor. C. E. Norwood (chairman of the Milk Committee) said:—"Afy committee is very pleased to say that a great majority of the mill; vendors of Wellington nave individually made known their intention' of. working in with the City Council lor the common good. The lime required, for answers to come in from t)ie expired at noon to-day. Although .1 few of tho sinnller vendors will hot participate in the scheme, the larger vendors' have risen lo tho ofceasiou excellently, and we liave every ftm-, eon lo feel, satisfied that at an "early unto Ihe council will be able to bring its scheme .of milk distribution to fruition. There were two issues put to the vendors: (1) The company scheme, and (2) direct contract; and 1 am pleased to say a large majority pf the vendors have expressed themselves ( in favour of tho company scheme. As that schemo provides an excellent method of filing the exact interest ,of each vendor, and as many of the smaller -\endors have rounds smaller than the standard round fixed under the council's scheme, viz., 60 gallons, it is an exceedingly difficult matter to enter into direct contract with them. How: ever, as the majority liavo thrown in their lot on the company side, tho others will bo requested to reconsider their attitude, as the general economy to bo effected by tho scheme depends upon the utilisation of every man associated with thy delivery of milk to his fullest capacity.

"The company scheme has iho additional attractive feature, too, limt it any man'is called'up on activo etrvice, or is unable to' perform his work from nny unforeseen circumstances, Hi"hf as sickness, etc., Ins interest in the company in regard' to the payment of bonuses will be protected, according to the shares he . holds in the company. "Jfy committee anticipates that howover- perfect the organisation of such a largo and vitally important, scheme as that of milk distribution, may be, there' wiil be a certain amount of confusion on the first day or two of the changeover to .the new "block" system, and in that conneetio-j r would ask the co-opera-tion and sympathetic help of citizen's in Hie launching of the system. To reduce the difficulty, to a minimum cards are being sent to every householder in the city. The postmen are leaving the cards, and will call for them again when they are filled in. It. is most important that every house where people Tesido who require milk shculd "Jjo represented by a card, for it is upon the register to be made up from these cards that the Hock system is to be arranged. Householders who find themselves, from one cause or another, without cards should lose no Hiue in obtaining the same from the Town Clerk, fill them in, and return tliem to tho Town Hall.' "The public will be advised in ample time of the date decided upon for the inauguration of the schema. ■ Coupon System of Payment. "As tho coupon system of payment is being introduced, householders are duly warned that no milk will be supplied without a coupon, as it is not intended that the milkmen will handlo money in any way whatsoever. Coupons will be made available to the public as soon as possible, and the committee hopes that no confusion or inconvenience will arise as the 'result of anyone not having coupons to present in return for milk when tho change over takes place." The above information should be carefully assimilated in order that, every/ householder may be seized of the details of the scheme and how he or she may help to make it a complete success by a thorough understanding of tho general good the co.uncil aspires to bring about. 'Later on the council hopes to be in a position to make the householder independent of the morning "billy" or jug by siipplviifg milk in a paper container, which holders aro absolutely hygienio, and present (lie, milk to the honsrlioMer sealed down. Tho proposal, is to buy a machine with ivhich tho paper containers are made out of wood jjulp at almost a negligible cost. That, cannot be accomplished at once, but. 1 the future holds it as an advantage easily attainable in normal times. "Will a person have to rise at 4 or 5 o'clock in the morning to present the coupon to the milkman?" was- a question put to Councillor Norwood. • The reply was that if they had daylight do- j liveries (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) that contin-1 goncy would 'never arise. If they deliv-1 ered as at present, people wouid have.l to t leave the coupons in the jugs or in! some place whore- they could be collected by the milkman. There ' ,was an idea by which a small sale of standard I size might be provided for holding the jug or "billy" as well as the coupon, to be locked up, the milkman to have a master key, but ..it was not yet known if such a step would bo advisable in connection with the new ' system of mill: delivery. :• j ========== i