MILK FOR INFANTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17942, 18 November 1921, Page 6

MILK FOR INFANTS.

MUNICIPAL ACTION URGED.

HAItKINS' POINT FARM.

PROPOSITION REJECTED.

A proposal that'tho City Council should establish a dairy herd on the council's property at Harking' Point, with the object of supplying to tiie city puro milk for infanta in tho manner advocated by tho Plunket Society, was discussed by the council last evening. The matter was introduced in a motion by Mr. T. Bloodworth, of which notice had bcon given on Juno 2. The matter was then referred to tho Works Committee, and a number of reports on the proposal havo been obtained in the meantime, The chairman of the Works Committee, Mr. G. Baildon, has also visited tho Wellington City Council's milk depot and investigated the working of tho system of milk supply in that city.

A report furnished by Mr. John Massey stated that tho land at Harkins' Point was more adapted for growing oats than grass. To maintain a good grass pasturo tho land would require yearly top-dressing with manure, and this, with the labour required, would mako dairying on it a very doubtful proposition. The land in its present condition would not graze 100 dairy cows, except for a few months in the spring and early summer. During the remainder of tho year the cows would requiro regular hand feeding to maintain a fair supply of milk. The report gave details in regard to requirements in the shapo of water supply, fences, and buildings. Tho estimated cost of the necessary buildings was £2500. The report added that the succoss or failuro of such an undertaking would chiefly depend on tho management. Unless a thoroughly qualified expert in the management of a dairy farm could bo found, the council should delay beforo launching into so great an expense.

Expenditure- Considered Inadvisable. The report furnished by the chairman of the Works Committee stated that in his opinion tho Wellington City Council was doing for Wellington only what the principal suppliers had been doing for Auckland for some years. Since his return from Wellington, Mr. Baildon said ho had interviewed several experts, and they did not give him much encouragement to commit the city to the expenditure that would be necessary to inaugurate a municipal milk supply. He could not recommend tho council to adopt the proposed scheme. Tho Works Committee recommended that the chairman's report bo adopted. Mr. Bloodworth said he was not in accord with tho recommendation. Tho report obtained from Mr. Massey on the proposal ho did not regard as hostile, as the Works Conimitleo appeared to have done. Tho report practically advised the council to adopt the scheme providing a suitable man could be found to manago the farm. It had been stated by the Plunket Society that suitable milk for infant food was not obtainable in many instances, and the preservation of infant life was of vital importance to the community. His suggestion did not involve tho establishment of a municipal milk supply. It only meant providing milk for infants as required by the Plunket Society. He moved an amendment to tho proposal t'iiat the chairman's report be adopted, that provision bo made in next year's estimates for the erection of tho necessary buildings to commence dairying operations.

Opponents of Scheme In Majority, Miss E. Melville said she was rather disappointed with tho committee's recommendation. The schemo could be commenced with a herd of 50 cows. That there was special need for milk for infants had been afiirmed by the Plunket Society. The speaker added that she had been considerably impressed with the Wellington municipal milk supply. Mr. G. R. Hutchinson said there were serious drawbacks to the proposal. Heavy manuring of tho land increased the risk of disease in tho cows, and hand-feeding of cows resulted in the milk becoming tainted. He suggested that the Plunket Society to obtain an adequate supply of milk for infants should obtain sufficient funds from the public to subsidise a farmer or group of farmers to supply tho milk required. Several other speakers opposed the establishment of the dairy herd. Mr. Bloodworth's amendment, on being put, was lost.