CITY'S MILK SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 289, 26 August 1918, Page 6

CITY'S MILK SUPPLY

CONSULTING THE FARMER

FAVOURABLE CONFERENCE

Recognising that, after all, the real essential in connection with Wellington's milk problem is an adequate and unfailing supply of pure milk, tbo City Council's .Milk Committed have been busy during tlio past week holding conferences with the dairy farmers of the Otaki, llorowlionua, and Wairarapa districts. On Thursday afternoon the committee, consisting of Councillors C. B. Norwood, J. 0. Siiorlaiul, and W: 11. Bennett, met the suppliers of tho Kabul U-operative Dairy Company at Otaki, and outlined the council's scheme, and suggested lines on which the suppliers eouid help tiny city and at the same, time beiijlit themselves. According to> tlio "Olaki Mail" the farmers gave & sympathetic hairing to the committee, and, tlio paper adds, "doubtless goodi will result from the meeting." "Tha same evening the committee" met ths Pnraparaumu farmers, whose representative (Mr. L. 1. Howcll), who occupied the chair, expressed the opinion that provided the City Couui 'I gave tlieim a guarantee as to prices, the farmerswould do their part and supply the milk. He slated that when the farmers put their evidence before the Board of Trade they were laughed at. Now,, however, the board was' evidently convinced of its error, and was prepared to give the extra price tho fanners asked for winter milk.

Councillor Norwood outlined thff council's scheme-, and the manner in which it was proposed to compensate the vendors, and urged tho farmers, on their part, to produce as much milk as possible, to improve the sanitary conditions of their farms, and to produce a better quality milk if possible. He could not give definite figures as to the prices they would be paid, as that, was a matter at present for tlio Board of Trade, but later on tho prices would be fixed hy mutual agreement between ,the farmers and tha City Council. Ho impressed on farmers that the council, was not getting a. penny out of it, but was actuated by a desire to get the best milk supplypossible for the citizens. In achieving that object they wero quite aware, .that they would have to pay a littla more than the factories offered, so that .farmers were in the happy position or knowing that they could not get less, and would probably got more by sending thoir milk to the city. Mr. Cliinie raised the point of tha extra cost of producing milk in tlia winter as against the summer. Councillor Norwood answered with the assurance that the council was prepared! to pay od. more per gallon for winter milk over the summer, price. With the milk supply in vim council's hands there would not be ihe existing trouble over cans. Councillor Norwood also mentioned tho proposal to have icceiring stations, so as i,o be in a position to tako the farmers' entire supply, and manufacture by-products from tlie surplus amount of milk. At 'the conclusion of the meeting a, hearty voto of thanks was. accorded to> tho visitors for their attendance,, whilst the meeting also unanimously expressed confidence in the City Council's milk scheme.

Milk Committee also met the reprotentatives _of the Featherston Oh operative Dairy Company . on Friday last, when a perfectly frank and opeij discussion took place en the scheme, [and tho council's desire to enter into an agreement to take over tho supply on terms that would be advantageous to tho farmers was expressed., thero was a good tone at the conference, and it is hoped that the Milk Committee's efforts_ will result ill something practical being achieved in connection wit-In securing an ample supply of milk for tho city.

On Saturday, Councillor Norwood in* formed a Dominion reporter that the meetings which had been attended by the committee wcro fairly representative of the districts most advantageously situated to supply Wellington with milk, and he had hopes, . when tho council's proposals were thoroughly digested, that some good would arise not only to the city but to the fiirmeM themselves, who had all to gain and nothing to lose by favourably considering tho proposals. In cases wlioro tho farmers in a district were inclined! to come in en bloc it might be arranged, to take their co-operative factories over , on lease or outright purchase, guaranteeing the 'fanners a profitable enough return on the milk they supplied, to ensure their hearty co-opera-tion,

Councillor Norwood stated that the milk-cards which-had been already distributed by the city postmen were beginning to come in, and in a few weeks the council hoped to be in the position, to commence the work of "blocking" out tho city on the basis of the information supplied by the cards. All householders who do not receive cards within, tho next fortnight by postman delivery will bo able to obtain same from the Town Clerk.