MILK SUPPLY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 62, 10 September 1910, Page 3

MILK SUPPLY.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir, — No doubt many, like myself, have been and are interested in following the discussions in the House and elsewhere anent the city's milk supply. No doubt Dr. Collins and others who air their opinions, scientific and otherwise, have the interests of the community at heart, but, sir, the tenor of their remarks shows their utter ignorance of the matters generally connected with the city's milk supply. I wonder does the public ever stop to consider the inevitable result of all this official (and otherwise) meddling with the source of the Wellington milk supply ? Why don't they ever see that it must make milk dearer in the long-run? I grant you we dairymen are slow to move, and the nature of our employment gives but little time for attention to matters outside the farm (seventeen hours a day constant grind leaves you fairly ready for the balance in bed), but even the worm will turn at last, and the everincreasing burden of requirements thrust on our -shoulders by an expectant army of inspectors, Government veterinary surgeons, etc., will sooner or later result in a general "wake up," and a consequent "rise" in prices ; and oh, let It be soon ! Some of Dr. ColHns's remarks are too funny for a _ practical dairyman to ever even entertain for a moment, whilst his sweeping assertion that 10 per cent, of the cows from which the city's milk supply is drawn are tuberculous is as unwarranted as the majority of his proposals are unworkable, and moreover, sir, a distinct slur on those engaged in this arduous trade. Farmers and their families drink more milk in one month than an average city man and his do in six, and yet which is the healthiest? Can Dr. Collins point out any series of unhealthy families engaged in milking for the city milk supply? I trow not; a sturdier, healthier lot of adults and children he cannot drop across, and yet the milk they so largely imbibe is tuberculous and all that , is bad. Let me inform those who are so keenly engaged in attacking the suppliers to the city and their output that the trade is in an absolutely healthy condition, as they can ascertain by enquiry through the right sources, and if they would only spend their time making enquiries into and attacks upon the other end of the trade, where required, they would do far more good, besides ceasing, by their insistent pin-pricking, from making the lot of the at any time hard-used dairymen harder even than what it is. Few people are aware of the vast improvements the Government inspectors have brought about in the past few years, and the arduous, irksome nature of a dairyman's life (one milking for city supply). Bad debts, low prices for milk (4d per gallon last summer), high prices for labour and living, still higher rents, and, at present, almost fabulous prices of dairy stook, have combined to make matters at times almost intolerable, without any ungrounded accusations such as Dr. Collins has given vent to. If he and others would only see that the local dairymen were not hampered by the Government itself, as thoy often are in many ways, they would be doing more good. We want a more efficient milk train service (not a van hitched on to whichever train happens to pay best), mn at a certain hour, a proper system for the distribution and return of empty cans (not a system of cans "alung out at the mercy of any train porter or guard who happens to remember them," and of cans kicking about at anyone's mercy, anywhere and everywhere, be the ground clean or muddy, dry or wet, as is the case in so many places). Let Dr. Collins keep his eye open next time he goes through the Lower Hutt Railway Station yard, and he may learn something. In conclusion, sir, I assert the fault is not ours. We, as a body, take a pvide in our work, our farms, our herds, and their output, and are only too anxious to turn out a clean wholesome product. Let the doctors and others look nearer home for the causes of so much illness amongst; young children and others, and they will be much nearer the mark. In conclusion, I apologise for taking un so much of your valuable space, but; fair play is bonnie play, and I and dairymen generally in this district are sick to donrh of the old backneved cry of "Blame the farmer."— I am, etc. J.A. Waiwetu, 6th Sept., 1910.