FREE MILK SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 159, 2 April 1937, Page 13

FREE MILK SCHEME

Delivery to Wellington Schools Begun FIRST DISTRIBUTION YESTERDAY 14,000 Children Supplied Nearly 14,000 schoolchildren in the Wellington city and suburban area yesterday morning drank their first bottle of milk supplied under the national scheme for free distribution, rhe organisation was not an easy task, for 900 gallons of milk were required, and 71 schools —primary schools, private and church schools, and kindergartens —had to be served. Had the organisers been able to see the rapturous expressions of delight on the childish faces, however, they would have counted their work as well worth while. Playtime was more than a mere break yesterday morning; it was “milk-time.” Milk which was deliciouslv cool, milk which had an inviting layer of thick cream on the top, milk which could be drunk out of one s own private bottle, and, what made it even more tasty, milk which was sucked up through a straw. As playtime drew near' in a laige Wellington suburban school a hardlyconcealed air of excitement pervaded all the classes. Thoughts wandered from the lessons to the shining bottles standing in their crates just outside in the passageway. Each knock at the door drew a sea of anticipating eyes and a murmur of hushed whispers. When the bell rang and the milk bottles were carried into the> class ' rooms the murmur resolved itself into an ecstatic “Ooh!” Eager bands clutched the bottles and straw s .parted lips showed their impatience at waitAll but one —a shy little girl with soft brown eyes and Uoney-ccdoum curls who did not like milk. Almost enviously she watched the others as the milk in the bottles grew less and less. A little tempting by the mistress saw her scruples overcome by the. desire to do as the others were doing. Soft brown eyes were downcast and a tinv voice breathed ‘Thank you” as the bottle was handed over. Then a tew timid sips, an uudecided moment "’bile «he wondered whether she liked milk or not, and then the final surrender as the sips became bigger. . Those who did like milk were quick to seize the opportunity. The levels in the bottles sank at an alarming rate. “Not so fast,” warned the teacher, and lips were reluctantly withdrawn from the straws for a breathing space. M itbin five minutes all the bottles were empty, and the class sat back with sighs of complete contentment. Hygienic Conditions. Every part of the scheme is carried out under the most hygienic conditions to prevent any possibility of contamination. The milk is delivered by the Wellington City Council milk department between 3 a.m. and 10.30 a.m. in half-pint bottles. The bottles are transported in wire crates, 24 bottles to the crate, and each full crate weighs 401 b. As the delivery is usually made long before school time each school has a special box erected at the gate. A standard lock is fixed to the box ami a key placed in the possession of each, headmaster and the driver of the truck.

After the pasteurised milk is fed into the bottles at the depot the bottles are sealed with a special cardboard cap. A small circular hole is punched, almost but not quite, through the cardboard, and it requires very little pressure to push the piece away and so to make a hole large enough to accommodate the straw.

The bottles are rinsed in cold water immediately after use. and on their return to the milk depot they are rewashed and sterilised. The scheme lias not been without its effect on the milk department. It has involved the purchase of thousands of new bottles and literally millions of cardboard caps and straws. Extra delivery vans have had to be purchased, and about eight additional men employed. Greater supplies of milk have had to be arranged, and yesterday the department drew more than 2000 gallons from Otaki. Smith Family Scheme. Ou a much smaller scale, a similar scheme was put into operation in a number of schools by the Wellington branch of the Smith'Family as far back as 1933. Tlie distribution of the milk was at that time left to the individual headmasters. The children provided mugs, the school provided straws, and a monitor or teacher gave each child his share. In that year the Smith Family spent £3OO on the project.

In 1936, however, the expenditure had increased to £513, and the total for the four years amounted to £3078. During 1935 approximately 2500 children in primary schools of the Wellington Education Board, the Catholic Education Trust Board, and free kindergartens, were supplied with a half-pint of milk during the winter and spring months.

It is generally acknowledged that the consumption of milk by school children benefits their health considerably. A report on one school by a medical officer showed that 80 per cent, of the children taking milk gained weight, 14 per cent, remained stationary, and only 6 per cent, lost weight. As against that, only 20 per cent, of the pupils not taking milk gained weight, 70 per cent, remained stationary, and 10 per cent, lost weight. Commenting on the report, the headmaster of a large Wellington school stated: “How much is due to the natural rate of growth for the normal child I do not know, but certainly there is an increase both in weight and vitality.”