MILK SUPPLY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22294, 21 June 1934, Page 14

MILK SUPPLY

IMPROVING tAe STANDARD CITY COUNCIL’S NEW BY-LAW. The draft of a proposed by-law to give effect to recommendations by the General Committee for improving the standard of the milk supply in Dunedin was dealt with at a special meeting of the Dunedin City Council last evening, when the General Committee report on the subject was adopted. The effect of the council’s decision is that the by-law lies open for inspection, and will come up for consideration by the council in four weeks’ time. Moving the adoption of the report, Cr MTndoe said that under the scheme, if a supplier represented himself to be the holder of an accredited certificate when he was not, lie was liable to be fined. On the other hand, if he failed to maintain the standard required, it was possible that the certificate would be taken away from him. Every opportunity would be given by the inspectors to find out the root cause why the standard was not being maintained before the certificate was taken away. At a later date, when the scheme had been in operation for some time, the probabilities were that the standard would lie so improved that it would he possible to raise it further. In the meantime, it was contended that the present standard was reasonable, not too difficult to maintain, and suitable for human consumption. The Government and the City Council inspectors would work in perfect harmony, and in the event of an appeal the party concerned could take a sample to a private chemist to have it analysed. He had been told, however, that the Government inspectors had never yet ■ been proved wrong. Dr Hercus would undertake the testing of the milk for bacilli content, although the department would test ( for milk solids.

Cr Borrie seconded the motion, and said that they aimed at purer milk in regard to bacteria content. It must be gratifying to the public to know that as far as bovine tuberculosis was concerned, its incidence was very slight. Compared with the Home Country, the risk was very much less, and the herd tests on the whole had shown them to be free, and it was hoped to reduce bovine tuberculosis to a minimum. This other test did not inflict a great cost on the producer, as it was merely a matter of absolute cleanliness. It had worked out very satisfactorily in Gisborne, and it was possible with extra care to reduce the bacilli content in the milk. Good and pure milk was the object of the council. , Cr Sheppard said that unless the names and addresses of accredited suppliers were advertised in the press at frequent intervals he failed to sec what value the certificate would be. It was only of value if the public were acquainted with the names of these suppliers, and the advertisements would cost money. He saw no provision for this expenditure. “ Although it is a great step forward,” he added, “ it seems to me that it does not cover everyone. What of the people who supply the companies? The aim of the committee is to see that every dairyman is sending milk up to a certain standard, but 20 people might send in high quality milk and five might send in milk that was full of germs, and yet the blending of those milks would come up to requirements. How are you going to cope with that?” Cr MTndoe said that the by-law would be administered by their own inspector and the licenses would be issued at the Town Hall. He thought the intention of the committee was to advertise the names once, but it was thought that the holders of the certificates themselves would see that their names were known. Certain difficulties would Jae involved in giving certificates to suppliers, but the purpose would be served in seeing thar the vendors maintained the standard. The onus was on the company to keep that standard up. The report was adopted.