AUCKLAND’S MILK SUPPLY

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 June 1934, Page 2

AUCKLAND’S MILK SUPPLY

WELLINGTON EXPERT’S REPORT. [PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, June 5. A report on Auckland’s milk supply system has been prepared for the Metropolitan Milk Council by Mr R. E. Herron, manager of the Wellington Municipal Milk Department.

He says that he was impressed at once by the enormous waste at present taking place in the duplication of transport and delivery services. This loss he estimates at £ 66,500 yearly. Further considerable losses occur through the uneconomic distribution in bulk supplies through the retail credit system, through the sale of surj plus milk to pasteurising firms at below the market value and through transporting milk into the city when it should be separated at the sourse of production and only the cream transported. Skim milk is put into the city sewers instead of being used for casein or fed to pigs. After detailing other effects of lack 1 of organisation, Mr Herron recommends that the Milk Council assume the responsibility of distributing milSI and says that in the absence of any other suitable alternative, consideration would presumably then have to be given to the adoption of a complete centralised plan under which the Council would purchase, treat, and distribute the whole of the milk and cream used in the metropolitan area. ; He suggests the promotion of a Milk Producers’ Association to supply all the milk and cream required for consumption in the Council’s area and to control the disposal of the surplus milk. He advises the Milk Council to reduce substantially the number of milk shops, that retail deliveries should be in bottles only, and practically all milk pasteurised. He finds that the present price payable to producers, fid a gallon, is too high for the average yearly price. In conclusion, Mr Herron says The milk Council has to bring order out of chaos, and in his opinion the only practical way is by a centralised plan. This would mean a complete change in the constitution of the Council, and new legislation. Under proper organisation, the producers weald obtain a much improved milk supply at a. reasonable price. The price at which the Council should aim is the average yearly price of fivepence per quart, for bottled and pas- j teurised milk. <