INTO STRIDE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 11, 13 July 1922, Page 8

INTO STRIDE

COUNCIL'S MILK DEPSKTMENT

A SLUMP IN COMPLAINTS.;

The City Council's milk department muat be getting into its stride now, for the general manager (Mr. R. A. Herron) stated to-day that the number of complaints had fallen to 1 per cent, of the total number of customers. Assuming then that the council delivers milk to 16,000 householders, the number of complaints would not be greater than 160, which must be regarded as. very satisfactory. The departmental officials are quite satisfied that the public generally has taken kindly to the change-over. Judging by letters received by the department, the hygienic aspect of the new system of delivery appeals to most people, who also see an improvement in the quality of the milk, judged by the way m which the cream settles on the top. '

The majority of the householders are co-operating with the council in every way, but there are still some who forget the coupon, and then complain that they did not receive the milk. The coupon must be left with the bottle, but not inside* it. A great deal of inconvenience has been caused at the milk depot because many householders have gone to great pains to replace the cap after the bottle has been emptied. The bottle is placed upside down in the crates before they enter the washing machine, and if a bottle is capped it cannot be automatically washed. The public are asked to destroy all caps immediately they are removed from the bottle.

It has been discovered by the department that the pint and pint-and-a-half . bottles imported from America are not quite up to the standard measurement. That is to say there is a variation amounting to no more than a few drams—the pint bottle being 3 per cent, short of the Imperial measure (according to .tests made for the department by Professor Marsden), and the pint-and-a-half bottle 2£ per cent, short. In order that the public shall not suffer because the container is slightly below standard, the department will on the first of each month deliver free of charge. a pint or a pint-and-a-half bottle of milk to those accustomed to taking that size. The test of the quart bottle shows that it contains an Imperial quart;' any shortage that has'been discovered is infinitesimal.

Councillor Norwood stated that the department took every precaution to see that the bottles were according to Imperial standards. As it is compulsory in several American States to distribute milk in bottles, the Federal Health liepartment established a special branch for testing' measurements as the bottles left the factory. The Wellington City Council arranged to utilise this machinery. In America, however, the law permits a margin of a few drams, and this was evidently taken into account when the bottles were passed.

PRAISE FROM MELROSE.

\. resolution congratulating , the city milk centre upon the success of ite efforts was passed by the Melrose Ratepayers and Electors' Association last night. The resolution reads : "That the Municipal Milk Committee Be congratulated on the result, of its labours to provide a good milk supply for the city, and that we believe the results have justified the liability taken."