CITY MILK

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 96, 27 April 1929, Page 10

CITY MILK

CONTENDING FACTIONS

POSITION IN CHRISTCH.URCH

ISSUE. IN DOTJET

Councillor W. 11. Bennett, who returned to Wellington from Christchurch on Thursday morning, was asked by a "Post"'reporter if ; he had-anything to say regarding- the object of his visit and'possible'result. lie replied that on. the whole the visit resulted much as ,he. had expected. "The Christchurch City. Council," said Councillor Bennett, "is divided jii the question into , two camps—one for the absolute control. of, the- city. milk business, and one for letting' things remain as they are, with a possible tightening-up of tho ' regulations "by, extra inspection. Those engaged--in'the business are almost exclusively farmer-vendors working on land near the city. : . ROUND THE DAIRIES. 1 "The four visitors,, .with sonic counciliors and. th.c Mayor, (Mr. Archer), ' were taken on-a round of visits to suppliers' farms, and it must be admitted ■ these leftllittle .to-be.desired for cleanliness and equipment, .but'it was evident that, many of them were prepared for the..visit, ;th"o 'whitewash not being dry in some cases. It was also significant that the smaller farn.-dairies were passed!by^ aiid; that the-best, equipped, j arid 1 the' only one seen>in operation, was owned by-an' enthusiast. There everything was ;of the-very. best. The handj milkers were suitably clothed, the animals clean,' ''and 'the - milkers' each had -a bucket of '. clean water: to ■■ moisten their fingers, instead'of tho old, dirty habit :of dipping 'them into the milkingpail, i 'In;.spite of absolute cleanliness, : the proprietor deemed it- expedient and necessary not only to bottle his milk, but ■ also 'to -pasteurise it. The question arises, if he could make it pay, why' riot 1 all.the farmer-vendors? "As 'to- the -meeting in the evening, it was quite a large one, composed mostly of those interested in the industry, and thoroughly antagonistic to anything that would tend to strengthen the proposed m,unicipalisation of the milk business; but the objectors wore not all objectionable. There was no more opposition than'one,would meet at any meeting dealing with debatable matter at election-time.' In my opinion the chairman (the. Mayor) was over-sensi-. tive,..and,'mado;a imistake, in. refusing to let questions.be.put,, because it .prevented anyone,, asking for further- information on matters that may not have'been made quite clear. CITIES' POSITIONS COMPARED. Councillor Bennett was asked if he thought they;would.succeed .in their efforts, to ;gcti:compl(:tc control. lie'replied'.'that'it ...was-difficult' 1, to say, but their difficulties were great. In Wei-;' | lington they./-liEu;l; the farmers behind them, rbut in'Christchurch they were, ap-'i proxiuiately.alj.iniopposition. In Wellington .the City, Council was unanimous. In Christehurch. there was.only a small majority,. for, L and : thci rest -against: Wellington, .was' .self-contained,' Petone and Johnsonvi.Ue, being the nearest outside local, bodies. -,■■.: ", Christchu'rch,". said Councillor Bennett,-'.' is. a .large 'centre,' with many boroughs and counties surrounding it on all sides,-and. it" appears to me that to be a success.there the city milk, would have.to-be a : metropolitan affair, goyern : ed by a metropolitan board, composedof representatives from :all concerned, but when'l,mentioned this there'was an exclamation^ 'Heaven sav^ us.from any more overlapping .boards'; we have,already far 'f0.6 many for our peace of mind.'; I-spent'ari.afternoon with council representatives.trying, to assist them in sonieof their difficulties. Time only will show''whether' , the"" Christchurch Council will be successful."* !