MUNICIPAL MILK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14150, 27 August 1909, Page 6

MUNICIPAL MILK.

PROTECTING THE PUBLIC. SITE FOR WELLINGTON DEPOT. [BY TELEGRAPH. —TRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Thursday. A deputation from the City Council, comprising that body's Milk Committee, waited upon the Minister for Railways this morning, regarding the need for a central site on which to establish a municipal depot for the reception and distribution of milk at Wellington. Dr. Newman said that the City Council recognised that the milk that went into the houses was not of a wholesome character very often, and a number of children died year after year from its effects. The Milk Committee of the Council recognised that one of the chief necessities to ensure better conditions was a distributing depot, and it felt that if the Minister could see his way to give them a piece of land as a site for it, a good deal would be done towards assisting the movement. A site near the railway was essential, as would be obvious when he mentioned that of 4800 gallons of milk that came into Wellington per day, only 850 gallons came by cart, and that was a diminishing quantity, while the train-borne proportion was increasing. He knew that the Agricultural Department was doing good work in inspecting dairies, but the Department could not do everything. The City Council's desire was to do something that would effectually help and protect the people, and just now the Minister could do something to help them, if he would. In replying, Mr. Millar said he recognised that the question was of the greatest importance to the people of Wellington, and, not only to them, because if a depot was set up in Wellington the example would be followed in other centres. He wanted to know whether it was proposed that, all milk should pass through the depot. Mr. Shirtcliffe explained that milk supplied from farms.near Wellington within four hours from the time of milking would be exempt, subject to their undertaking tests which would require the expenditure of only £1 or £2 on instruments— tests which medical authorities, including Dr. Frengley, had declared to be effective, and the further check of samples of their milk being taken by the Council inspectors in the streets of the city and tested from time to time. Continuing, the Minister asked if it was proposed to inspect milk at the depot and then rerail it to Te Aro. If that was done an extra charge for railage would have to be made. An answer was given that no rerailage would be necessary. The milk would be delivered straight to the car*ts. Mr. Millar then referred to the Cables' foundry site, and said that, apart from the smoke nuisance, its leasing value would be too great to make it suitable for such a purpose, and there was a very large building in view by the Railway Department, which might interfere. The goods traffic would have to be separated in the future, and a passenger station would have to be built somewhere in the vicinity, while a goods station would be located nearer the Manawatu station, but there was nothing definite yet. He was inclined to think that the site suggested by Mr. Fitzgerald was the more feasible one. If the Council was granted and accepted a lease it would be necessary to have it over land that was not likely to have to be resumed by the Railway Department, as in that case they would get no compensation beyond being allowed to remove their building. In further discussion the Minister mentioned that the Government had under consideration a proposal to build a wharf at Thorudon for accommodation of the Government steamers.

A suggestion was made by Mr. Shirtcliffe that perhaps the engineer of railways would confer with the city engineer on the matter.

Eventually the Minister intimated that he would have a report drawn up by the railways engineer as to what lands might be available for leasing and the exact localities of them. .