THE MILK PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 13, 15 July 1918, Page 7

THE MILK PROBLEM

TO THS BDITOR. Sir, —The inadequate and indifferent milk supply to the city has become very acute lately, the principal cause probably being the restricted railway facilities, for which at present there seems to be no remedy. The City Council, it is understood, has shelved the question of establishing a, milk farm, which is to be regretted, as it seems to me to offer the best prospects for obtaining a sure and satisfactory supply of milk. As land becomes dearer, the farmers will be driven back, and the, sources of supply become more distant, costly, and uncertain. Even if such a farm were run at a loss for a time it would, by providing .pure milk, be worth while in the saving of infant life and the. general health-of the community. It is undoubtedly a big undertaking to enter into, and would require much expert advice and consideration. If a suffi- , ciently large area could be obtained, say at Upper Hutt, Makara, or Tawa;Flat,s for the purpose, the City Council would be practically independent of the railway. Large motor lorries could be fitted with suitable tanks: of a convenient size . to handle for cleaning, etc. All the cooling and other processes could be done at the farm, necessitating bnly a comparatively small depot or two in the city, where the milk could be transferred to motor carriers, or for small districts motor side-car cycles.. These delivery carriers should be fitted into small tanks' with taps to them; the risk of dust and dirt getting into. the.milk would then be .reduced to a minimum. It would be easy to arrange for measure attachment, to the taps through which the milk would 'be measured out. The tanks would have lids to clamp on, removable for cleansing, etc. The saving in time, labour, handling, and facility for clearing would be , enormous compared to the old cans. Bringing the milk direct from the farm would avoid the long exposures to sun and weather incurred by the transfers from carts to railway platforms, and vice versa. Deliveries could be made much quicker, with less chance of the milk deteriorating. The establishment of a City Council farm should, not > be resented by farmers, as they are now reluctant to supply the city, and assert that they have more profitable .ways of-disposing of their milk. If one City Council farm conld not supply the city, it might be desirable to have the clearing station in the city, to provide for supplies to be obtained from other districts.—l am, etc., LATTE FRESCO. 14«h July. TO THB EDITOR, Sir, —Could I suggest that hospitals and mothers who are feeding babies on humanised "hulk be supplied with milk before other people? Plunket nurses could issue tickets to mothers, to. produce to milkmen (with quantity needed to set). If milkmen do not supply babymilk first, the Government should make them.—l am, etc., A NURSE. 14th July. ...■"'"

Mr. D. Sutherland, of Invercargill, brother to Mr. B. Sutherland, of the Railway Department, who was visiting the North Island'for, health reasons, died last evening at his brother's residence at. Brooklyn. The remains will be taken South to-night for interment at lavil* ■cargill. - -. ■