MILK SUPPLY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 79, 3 April 1926, Page 6

MILK SUPPLY

(To the Editor.) Sir,—As chairman of the Nearby Farmers, I presided at their annual dinner, where Mr. Held made reference to certain matters relative to Wellington's milk supply, which you and Councillor Ben* nett apparently take so much exception to. before touching on your article of the 31st, I would like to call your attention to what Mr. Field actually did say at the dinner on the 24tli. At'no time did lie attack the council's milk supply, While he contended that a fresh-milk supply, straight from the. farm to the consumer, was absolutely necessary, and these remarks were fully approved by the Mininster of Health, the Hon. J. A. Young. What really concerns Mr. Field most, and 'the farmers around Wellington generally, is not the quality of the council's milk so much as the damning effect of the legislation of 1919 on the farming community, which gave the council absolute cofltfol df the milk supplied, and those 1 who supplied it. By applying the 30-gallon limit to the nefirby farmer the council cut his business in lialf and at the same time closed the market to the outside farmed altogether. This, notwithstanding Councillor Norwood's remarks in >your issue of 14th March, 1922, when he said it was the Government's duty to control^ and not the council's. But, Sir, in their drafting they got every, advantage! while the farmer received no protection whatever, and only one year in seven has he been able to exact anything like a fair'price for his milk, while over the same period it has cost the nearby farmers thousands of their hard-earned money to remove the council's heels front oft their necks temporarily. Yet, you still wonder why Mr. Field or anyone else should ask that this state of affairs should either end or mend. Now, as far as the article of the 3lst is concerned, invitkig Mr. Field to come along and inspect the records of the department, Mr. Bennett is quite courageous in his invitation in as much as he chooses his own time. But, why was the inquiry made on behalf of the public of Wellington through the Welfare League so effectively _ hUshed-^-was it to prevent the distribution of poisonous gas, as Councillor Norwood then termed it, or are ive to Understand that time Was required to smother up, and that being done, everything now is quite presentable? New, supposing Mr. Field did accept the invitation extended, he would find, if he probed deep enough, that in 1019 the sum total of gallons -supplied directly to the citizens of Wellington by the farmerß inside the 2-mile liniit was between 500 and 700 gallons daily, while to-day, an-, cording to the council's own figures, it amounts. to approximately 3000 gallons daily. 'This. Sir, so effectively answers the whole of Mr. Bennett's tirade, aud perhaps justifies your intervention that it is unnecessary for me to sny more on the matter other than to-thank .you for the compliment you have so indirectly paid us.—l am, etc., JAMES PUROHASK. Chairman of the Neai'by Farmers. Johnson villa.