SYDNEY'S MILK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22719, 4 May 1937, Page 16

SYDNEY'S MILK

SUPPLY AND CONTROL BOARD CHAIRMAN'S OUTLINE 24,000,000 GALLONS A YEAR [nv TELEGRAPH —OWN COHRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON, Monday Row Sydney's milk supply is organised and controlled was explained by Mr. I!. H. Ncsbitt, llic newly-appointed chairman of the Milk Board of New South Wales, in an interview. Until recently "Mr. Ncsbitt was Australian Trade Commissioner in New Zealand and he returned to Wellington from Sydney to-day in the Awatea on business connected with his former position. " Sydney's milk supply has been under control since 1929," said Mr. Ncsbitt. " The original Act was found to lie unsatisfactory as far as its price, fixing provisions were concerned. A new Act and a new board came into being in 1931, but the board expired in the fullness of time at the beginning of this year because of dissatisfaction which was freely expressed from various sources and by the metropolitan press. A Royal Commission was set up and a special investigation was made. Following this the Stevens Government appointed an entirely new personnel.

2500 Dairy Farmers " The supply is drawn from an area about 240 miles long and 80 miles wide, running down the west coast from Dungog in the north to Naura in the south," said Mr. Nesbitt. "In this area dairies produce about 70,000,000 gallons of milk fi year, of which approximately one-third is acquired for the metropolitan area and Newcastle. The remainder is used for butter, cheese, powdered and condensed milk. " Actually milk for the metropolitan area is collected from about 3500 dairy farmers and is supplied through about 24 country factories, most of which are co-operative associations. Because many of the factories are some distance from Sydney, the milk is cooled at country factories and transported in bulk tanks to Sydney, where it is pasteurised and distributed by companies, which act as agents for the Milk Board. The quantity coming from these sources is approximately -24,000,000 gallons a year. In addition there are about 460 dairymen operating within the metropolitan area itself. Milk from their dairies amounts to 10,000,000 gallons a year and is sold abroad. Changing to Bottling

" At present only about five per cent of the milk being sold in Sydney is in bottles, the remainder being on the open method," Mr. Nesbitt continued. "A change-over to bottling, however, is gradually being brought about and increasing quantities are being so handled." The board covered such matters as:— (1) Decision as to what persons may be registered as dairymen or milk vendors; (2) fixing the minimum price to be paid to dairymen and also the maximum price for wholesale and retail deliveries;' (3) the establishment of grades of milk; (4) control of the collection of milk; (5) regulation of the hours of retail delivery; (6) research and investigation with a view to improving methods of production, treatment and distribution of milk. Mr. Nesbitt went on to say that the present price, which was fixed in 1932 by the board which has now ceased to function, is lid a gallon at the country factory. Milk was sold in Sydney wholesale at Is 5d a gallon and householders paid 7d a quart for milk in open containers.

Board Supervision The supervision of the board covers the inspection of dairying and vendors' premises and equipment; the maintenance of bacterial examination at various stages betwen the producer and. the consumer; examination of samples for tuberculosis bacilli; and the inspection of herds and testing of milk at receiving factories for fat content and keeping quality and cleanliness. At the present there are four grades in Sydney —raw milk, pasteurised milk, special raw milk and special pasteurised milk. The last two have special grades because they are obtained from specially run dairy farms. "The cost of administering the Act is met from the funds of the board and is not a charge on the consolidated revenue," said Mr. Nesbitt. " The funds are mainly derived from registration fees, which total about £19,000 a year. The board also conducts an extensive publicity campaign."