SYDNEY MILK SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 186, 4 May 1937, Page 5

SYDNEY MILK SUPPLY

Bottle System Being Introduced WORK OF NEW BOARD How Sydney’s milk supply is organised and controlled was explained by Mr. R. 11. Nesbitt, newly-appointed chairman of the Milk Board of New South Wales, in an interview yesterday. Until recently Mr. Nesbitt was Australian Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, and he returned to Weilington from Sydney yesterday in the Awatea on business connected with his former position. Sydney's milk supply has been under control since 1929, said Mr. Nesbitt. The original Act was found to be unsatisfactory as far as its price-fixing provisions were concerned, and a new Act and a new board came into being iu 1931, but the board expired in the fullness of time at the beginning of this year. Because of dissatisfaction which was freely expressed from various sources and by the metropolitan Press, a Royal Commission was set up and a special investigation made. Following this, the State Government appointed an entirely new personnel. The supply is drawn from an area about 240 miles long and 80 miles wide, running down the coast from Dungog in the north to Noura, in the south. In this area the dairies produce about 70,000,000 gallons of milk a year, of which approximately onethird is acquired for the metropolitan area and Newcastle. The remainder is used for butter, cheese, powder and condensed milk. Actually, said Mr. Nesbitt, the milk for the metropolitan area is collected from about 3500 dairy-farmers, and is supplied through about 24 country factories, most of which are co-operative associations. Because many of the factories are some distance from Sydney the milk is cooled at the country factories and transported in bulk tanks to Sydney, where it is pasteurised and distributed by companies which act as agents for the Milk Board. The quantity coming from these sources is approximately 24,000,000 gallons a year. In addition, there are about 460 dairymen operating within the metropolitan area itself. The milk from their dairies amounts to 10,000.000 gallons a year, and is sold abroad. At present only about 5 per cent, of the milk being sold hi Sydney is in bottles, the remainder being sold on the open method. The change-over to bottling, however, is gradually being brought about, and increasing quantities are being so handled. The board covers such matters as (1) the decision as to what persons may be registered as dairymen or milk vendors, (2) fixing the minimum price to be paid to dairymen and also the maximum price for wholesale and retail deliveries, (3) the establishment of grades of milk, (4) the control of the collection of milk. (5) regulation of the hours of retail delivery, and (6) research and investigation with a view to improving methods of production, treatment and distribution of milk. Mr. Nesbitt went on to say that thq present price, which was fixed in 1932 by the board which has now ceased to function, is lid. a gallon at the country factory. The milk is sold wholesale in Sydney at. 1/5 a gallon, and householders pay 7d. a quart for milk in open containers. The supervision of the board covers the inspection of dairying and vendors’ premises and equipment, the maintenance of bacterial examination at various stages between the purchaser and the consumer, the examination of samples for tuberculosis bacilli and the inspection of herds, and the testing of milk at receiving factories for fat content, keeping quality, and cleanliness. At present there are four grades in Sydney—raw milk, pasteurised milk, special raw milk, and special pasteurised milk. The last two have special grades because they are obtained from specially-run dairy farms. The cost of administering the Act is met from the funds of the board, and is not a charge on the consolidated revenue, said Mr. Nesbitt. The funds are mainly derived from registration fees, which total about £lO,OOO a year. The board also conducts an extensive publicity campaign.