MILK SUPPLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23085, 9 July 1938, Page 18

MILK SUPPLY

SHORTAGE OVERCOME ACTION BY THE COUNCIL CHAIRMAN'S EXPLANATION SCHOOLS CONTRACT AFFECTED An explanation of the stops taken to meet the serious shortage of milk in Auckland over the past woek and what were considered to bo the reasons lor tho situation wero given at yesterday s meeting of tho .Metropolitan Milk Council by tho chairman, Mr. I. J. Goldstino. .

"1 wish to make it plain that tho acute shortage became apparent when it came to the supply for schools and unfortunately tho Milk Council has no control over tho supply to schools," Mr. Goldstino said. "Tho Government controls this through tho Milk in Schools Committee, with which the council co-operates. We consider it our duty to try and arrange for an adequate supply and it was untortunato that tho council had not been advised of the likely shortage in time to overcome the difficulty. Sudden Development "The contract for milk in schools is carried out by certain firms, of which Stonex Brothers, Limited, was able to maintain the contract. Aniburys, Limited, however, which was dependent upon the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, for part of

its supplies, had insufficient milk, and if the dairy company had apprised Amburys of tho shortage steps could have been taken earlier. It is reasonable to assumo that the dairy company knew of the impending shortage.

"The position is that the council was advised suddenly on Tuesday that there would bo a HO per cent shortage in the schools supply for two days and on tho third there would be no milk at all.

Mr. Goldstine outlined tho action taken to secure supplies. "Obviously there is some reason for tho shortage other than tho usual winter difficulties," he continued. "It was found that the New Zealand Dairy Company had supplied on Monday 180 gallons to tho Awatea, on Thursday 200 gallons to the Maunganui, and to-day it is supplying 480 gallons of milk and cream equivalent to 1960 gallons of milk to tho Monterey. The company has also arranged to supply 370 gallons of milk to tho Aorangi on Monday. Adequate Supply Assured

"It is true that the company is under contract to supply tho ships, but it is reasonable to assume tliat tho amount of milk was known. As it had arranged fo supply Amburys with 700 gallons of milk for schools tho company should have been in a position to advise of tho impending shortage. "I wish to inform the council and public that the shortage, which would never have occurred if the council had had the notice to which it was entitled, has now been overcome and there will be an adequate supply." Mr. Goldstine moved at the conclusion of the discussion that the council should accord its appreciation to its officers and that letters of appreciation should be sent to Mr. H. Kayes, of Mount Albert, who had assisted in arranging for tho supply, and to the farmers concerned. He also moved that the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser, should be informed of the position and of the steps taken by the council. The motion was passed, Mr. E. F. Andrews, who is also a member of tho .Milk in Schools Committee, asking to have that body associated with tho motion of appreciation. Licences and Prices

Mr. 11. B. Stonex, vendors' representative, said he did not agree with the chairman's statement that the council did not have any warning of the threatened shortage. Last February the technical adviser, Mr. W. C. Neil, had wanted more suppliers' licences to he granted, but no action had been taken until some months later when the council had endeavoured to find farmers willing to supply milk under B licences. Mr. C. J. Lovegrove, one of the producers' representatives, said the question was going to be recurrent and was not peculiar to Auckland alone. He considered that one way to lessen the difficulty was to pay farmers an adequate premium for winter milk.