THE MILK PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 25, 29 January 1918, Page 7

THE MILK PROBLEM

TO IDE BDIIOR.

Sh>—We have read with much" interest the many opinions on the milk ■problem of this city during the past month,' and note that many citizens have taken the opportunity to criticise the action taken by the council in erecting and controlling what has been called a milk clearing station, which occupies its position in a dusty and smoky corner near the Thorndon Railway Station. When we look seriously .into the milk supply of the city as it is to-day we must admit that something of a change is required in order that the public may obtain such a necesaarv food as pure milk. I have been connected with the milk trade in this city for. many years, and,'like many other unfortunate milk vendors,- I f have. had the honour of appearing before the Public Court to answer charges of selling milk adulterated, and although we have proved beyond doubt that we have sold the milk exactly in the, same condition as we received it' from the supplier, we were fined heavily. . . ■ ""* About eighteen months ago tEe Wellington, City Council appointed a milk inspector, who has been busily engaged during this time in taking samples of milk from vendors, which resulted in many prosecutions, and nearly in,every instance the same old story was told in CouriH-that they sold the milk as they received it from the fanner. (This in many cases I know to be correct.) " Still the heavy fines do ■ no^. stop " adulterated milk Teaching "the public," as vendors seldom have', the opportunity of testing the whole of the milk before it is delivered, with the result that prac-' tically every licensed milk vendor in the city has been convicted under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act. As a vendor it was worthy to note the remarks of the Hon. Minister for Publio Health a few days ago, when he stated that heavy penalties would still be in-, flicted in future cases for the sale of adulterated milk, also,, in a case recently before the Court at Wellington, the Magistrate fined, a milk vendor £20, and stated that the person that sold adulterated milk was no f tetter than a thief. (In this case the vendor stated that he sold the milk as he received it.) A short time ago. a number of milk vendors appeared :before the City Council to show cause why their:licenses should not be dealt with, and their explanation was again that the milk was SOI4 in the same, condition as received by them. For the above reasons, ■ and also the threat from the Farmers' Association, that, unless a temporary, clearing house was erected'by the council, the supply of milk for the city would be endangered. /

■ After considering the abovi-mentibned details the council decided to erect a clearing house for the purpose of testing the milk before it reached the vendors, and to cleanse and. return the cans to the suppliers, whichj no doubt, should result ( in a more satisfactory state of affairs. We all know that the clearing house was opened on 9th January arid closed on 10th January, and is now described by some as. a ghaatly failure, simply because the whole operation did not go off like, shelling peas. I say that it was never tried long enough to form any opinion of, as the, management decided to close it again unitl it was better equipped and a, more experienced staff engaged. I say that the clearing house must open again in, the near future, and when it does, with a complete staff and equipment, it will do what it was established for, that is, to prevent adulterated milk being passed qii to the consumer, and innocent milk vendors' heavily lined for offences which they have no knowledge oi, and the members of the City. Council will be keeping their pledges* to the public in carrying out a scheme'for * pure milk supply. In conclusion, 'a statement was. made to the eflcaz that a certain section of the milk vendors are antagonistic to the clearing house, but I for one* and I know of many others, who have realised the advantages, will give the clearing house every support, for when in operation it mil relieve the milk vendor of the responsibility which he now suffers, of the milk ibeing adulterated before it is received from the Railway Department. . ' At the present time a milk vendor has to take the risk of the cow (as many cows' milk does not come tip to the standard in butter-fat), the risk- of the dishonest farmer, and also,- last but not least, what sometimes ■ happens to it during transit., .

A milk vendor's responsibility ghould then start when he receives the milk, and this he niust expect, and perhaps m due course an honest' milk vendor may be able to redeem his good name, and_ get'»-the justice -which he is entitled to in God's own country.—l am, etc., MILK.VENDOB.'

29th January. ■