THE CITY’S MILK

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11649, 13 October 1923, Page 5

THE CITY’S MILK

RIVAL DELIVERIES MIDNIGHT fciSUtt MAY BE BEVEXITED TO. CASE FOB DARKNESS. With sunnier not far distant thG City Father.- a:o still considering, the pioolcm of the milk supply. Unabashed by the little war which has keen waged upon this battleground the iriik committee hopes to have a successful year, to recoup tho £2l >OOO which it"is behind and to show a very reasonable profit. But in tho meantime remains the matter of delivery. INCREASING IN URGENCY. As the ti mi>erature > limbs higher tho problem here presented becomes more pressing. Labour is the chief ci*rse of concern. The committee feel that the' arguments for reversiou to the midnight delivery are strong indeed, and it is on the cards that the council may soon be advised of this fact. But if tho matter ended there, there would be no problem. Of old the men worked during the dark hours and the belated wayfarer journeyed home amidst the clank of cans and champ of horses, but since they have tasted the sweets of daylight labour, the men are in no way inclined to go back to the old system. And, as the whole milk department delivery comes under the operation of the Factories Act, if the men object the matter ends there; and no court of law can /force them to labour. AGAINST DAYLIGHT DELIVERY The arguments against a continuance of tho daylight delivery during the sunny months are thought to lie strong indeed. Tho heat will make the condition of the milk by the time that it reaches the consumer something tc bo wagered about If, is considered impracticable to cover the carts, and it is pointed out that even if this were done the evigenries of handling would make it extremely doubtful whether this covering would le of any value. The men ore constantly removing and replacing bottles, and thus the covering would bo reduced to a minimum. Besides this the consumer has to be protected from himself in a certain degree, and the housewife who leaves her bottle sf milk upon the doorstep in the boiling sun is apt to find it literally slewing and to condemn the whole system. EARLY MORNING METHOD.

The case for early morning delivery also, is considered to be problematic. Under tho Factories Act tne men may cot commence work earlier than 4 a.m. without payment of the prescribed rate of overtime. And if they were to start delivery at 4 o'clock, it is pointed out that many consumers would not get their milk in time for breakfast, and would have to held on to a supply from the preceding day. To this, of course, many consumers would object. Thus it is felt on several sides that a reversion to midnight delivery may b« made, and that the committee should endeavour to come to some understanding with the men upon the matter. In the old days this delivery cr.counted a certain amount of opposition on account of the racket made by the men in the streets; hut consumers may now readily accept it as the most desirable course, whether or not overtime is paid.