MILK IN SCHOOLS

Grey River Argus, 5 March 1937, Page 12

MILK IN SCHOOLS

greymouth area Meeting of Representatives At the request of Ihe Minister of ITealth and Education (Hon. T. Eraser) He Mayor (Mr W. Meldrum) on Wednesday convened a meeting of those concerned with (he free distribution of niilk in the schools of the Greymouth boroimh. Those present were Air J. 0 Brien, M.P., and Mrs O’Brien Very Rev Father J. Long, Messrs T. K Coates A E. Morgan. R. Roper, M. Minehan, J. Graham, W. M Stewart, TT R Barrett, T. E. Schon, Norton, A. Patv A H MeKane, F. 11. Denton (Town* Clerk), Rev. Bro. Oswald and several ladies. Apologies were rceeived from Messrs H. J. Bignell, P. Ilig-o-ins and M. Sheard. 1 ° The Mayor explained that, it was the Government’s policy to provide free milk to all school children, and that the Minister had requested him to convene the meeting with a view to appointing a committee to undertake inquiries into th e sources of supply and the means of distribution. He read the following letter lie had received from the Director-General of Health (Dr. H. M. Watt):— The Government desires to introduce the "milk in schools’’ scheme as early as possible and preliminary negotiations are already in hand in the main centres with the object of providing a regular daily ration of half-a-])int ol milk per school day available to every child' attending public and private schools and kindergartens and also where desired, children attending postprimary schools. It is proposed that. t:lie supply be free of charge to par. outs. The Government, will be glad ol lhe fullest, co-operation and assistance of citizens’ local committees in each area served' and desires to entrust, to such committees the duties of: organi. sation and general oversight. I am directed by the Hon. the Minister of Health to ask Your Worship if you will be so good as 1o convene a meeting of local Members of Parliament, Educ.a. tion Board representatives, School Cora, niittees and Parents’ Assn, representatives, Head Teachers’ Assn, representatives of private schools; organisations already actively interested in the distribution of milk for school children. It is suggested that from such general meeting should lie appointed an executive or estimates committee who would undertake enquiries regarding supply and- distribution. Wherever possible lhe local executive officers ol the Department of Agriculture, Education and Health will be available to act in an advisory capacity to the executive. In every case it will be necessary for the source of supply Io be finally approved by the Departments of Agriculture and Health,

Obviously some elasticity in the formation of local committees will be desirable according to population and other geographical aspects, and the following is an outline of the broad' basis on which it is recommended the committee should proceed. The first steps of the committee will be to enquire into possible sources of supply. The ideal supply is one (hat is pasteurised an,| bottled. This will not bo possible in many places to commence with, hut (Im presence of a cheese factory in any district may provide for ‘ ‘ flash ” pasteurising as an alternative to the "hold” system which of course is to be preferred if available. In the absence of pasteurisation, a tuberculin, tested herd should be sought for and the supply treated preferably by brine cooling or some alternative method other than, by simple water cooling. It should be possible, however, and it is desirable, I hat in, all eases the supply be bottled either in glass containers or in cartons of approved type. Information as to costs and sources of supply in this connection will be furnished to your committee to pass on to prospective tenderers. It will need to be born,, in mind that the supply is require,] for only about 200 days in the year and producers or distributors will require to make, some arrangements for diverting surplus milk to a factory. Advice and assistance in Ibis direct ion if required will be given by the Director of Internal Marketing, Wellington. It is not thought desirable to make rcirm contracts for the present, but if, for the completion of any agreement, it. is necessary for any supplier to tindertake an amount of capital expenditure due provision will be made for compensation should unforseeu circumstances arise causing discontinuance of the supply. As a guide to committees in entering into negotiations it can be said that the price to be paid, is to be based on the value of milk under the guaranteed price for butter fat plus an extra amount compensating for th,, additional cure expected and the responsibility of maintianing supplies in the winter. Over this price there will also be additional amounts wheip pasteurisation and bottling is concerned as well as an allowance for delivery, according t'o circumstances. For general information the basic price to be paid in the four main centres will probably bo in the vicinity of 7d per gallon at the farm gate. Where a dis. llrilmtor concerned is engaged in the subsequent handling, treatment and delivery, the maximum delivery price at the school should work out at about Is 3d per gallon. It is necessary to take into consideration that empty bottles are to be re-collected on the same day as delivery. A questionaire has been sent Io all schools to ascertain how many pupils will accept the ration of milk, and the replies are now in the. hands of the Department of Health, Local executive committees in negotiating for supplies may be enabled to estimate quantities required by 'writing to the Department for mis information respecting the schools that will be included in the committee’s area. All the schools concerned should be named. With this information it is hoped that committees can open up negotiations. As soon as they were in a position to submit ami recommend en arrangement with any supplier, or suppliers and distributor, they are adI Vise,] Io communicate al once with the Milk- Scheme Officer, Department of Health, 'Wellington, to whom other enquiries should also be sent in the meantime. Sufficient detail should be sent to enable the preparation of an agree, meat-for mutual approval. It is desired also that the personnel of the com-' mittee be conveyed to Die Department at the same time as recommendation tor (he agreement comes forward. The Milk Scheme Officer has already visited some centres and will as soon as possible, visit each district, concerned. IT Four Worship is unable Io initiate this movement or is 'met with difficulties, I should be glad of prompt notifiestion

A committee representing all con.

corned was required to undertake the work, the whole cost, being borne by the Government. Air J. O-Brien, M.P., said that the Government’s object was to provide a daily supply of half-a-pint of milk for till the school children of the .Dornin;on. They would require to find out how many children would inti to be so supplied each day, and to make arraiigeinents for the supply. Headn asters had already been requested to liuj out hew many children rtp.'ired milk, or would take it daily. He was pleased to learn Hint there hud been very few refusals or the offer The meeting’s main business was to set up a conimilte- which would obtain the necessary information and advise lhe Heaitp Department, The main difficulty lay in the fact, that lhe milk was required for only about 200 days yearly and there was a necessity for suppliers to divert their supplies to other sources when the niilk was not required in the school. He suggested that a committee of about seven could suitably undertake the task. Air Coates supported Mr O’Brien’s suggestion of a. small committee, but said that there would be difficulty in securing suitable pasteurised milk locally. They would probably have to ta.k t; the best supply local vendors could give. He moved that a committee of nine bo set up to go into the matter. Mr ALcKane, seconding lhe motion said that each school could bo separately represented and the teachers should also have representation. Air l)’Brien considered that the scope of representaitioji, could! be broadened and mot selected entirely from lhe schools. Air Barrett suggested that a milk vendor should be included, but Mr Minehan said it -would be inadvisable to-have vendors represented. Mr Norton expressed the opinion that one producer should be on the committee, a suggestion which Air Morgan supported. Air Norton added that the producers knew all the facts required and there were inspectors who would know the relative merits of pasteurisation and bottling. A motion by Air AlcKaiie that the coniinitt.ee consist ol one representative 01. each school and two representatives of the leaching stall, one from the public, schools and one from the privale schools, each school to be advised by circular letter, and a meeting to be held next Wednesday evening at S o ’clock, wus seconded by Air Morgan and carried. -Mr O’Brien said that hg was concerned about lhe supplies, as GO to 70 gallons of milk would be required daily. Air Minehan said that any amount of niilk was availably but the whole question -was bound up in the registration of dairies, which could not supply milk without registration. He did not consider milk could bo supplied, locally at the suggested figure. Air Norton agreed that, the price was too low. The profit made in summer was'lost through the necessity <>f g? r . ting winter feed from Canterbury. Cartons instead of bottles would reduce the cost slightly, but much extra work was needed if pasteurisation was required!. All .these matters deserved consideration. The price from vendors to suppliers was not less than Is per gallon ’lhe meeting then concluded.