WELLINGTON’S MILK SUPPLY

Evening Star, Issue 17921, 17 March 1922, Page 6

WELLINGTON’S MILK SUPPLY

BOTTLE SYSTEM ADOPTED

[Fan United Peess Association.]

WELLINGTON, March 17. Ac last night’s meeting of the City Council the Milk Committee recommended that tho necessary authority bo granted to tho committee to proceed with tho delivery of milk in bottles as from July 8, 11)22. Estimates of the cost of providing tho necessary plant and equipment and structural_ alteration to tho present premises is £210,000. Cr Norwood,-chairman of tho Milk Committee, said he concluded on overwhelming cvideuco that there was only ono way of distributing milk, and that was in bottles. Ho said that when all accounts wore paid at tho end of the month they would have a cash balance of £21,500. Their one loan was £52,000, so that their fixed .assets were represented at £30,500, represented in tho milk station in Dixon street and its ramifications and country stations. No tenders had boon received for tho distribution of milk, so they must take on the work of distribution themselves. Tho extra expense of bottling milk would bo met by the adoption of tho coupon system. Or Forsyth said ho thought that tho £21,000 would probably be absorbed when tho existing liabilities were met and paid, and moved that tho report bo referred back. Cr Burns seconded tho amendment, as the scheme would bo too much of a financial strain on tho city purse. Ho said tho astounding thing in tho report was that 'bottles were to bo bought in America when bottles luul been quoted cheaper. _ ~ Cr Norwood explained that the American price was here, the English price f.o.b. England. Cr Chapman supported tho report. Ho said the system assured purity and a full measure. The Mayor said that tho council had been positively driven into establishing a municipal milk scheme, as milk producers were dissatisfied with the vendors, bo tho council found it necessary to go on The council was committed to the scheme, and must move forward. Tho scheme was being watched with interest by countries overseas. After discussion the amendment was lost, and tho motion to adopt tho report was carried.