Deterioration of Town Milk Supply in Summer

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26784, 29 May 1948, Page 4

Deterioration of Town Milk Supply in Summer

NORTH OTAGO NEWS

A statement was made by a deputation to the Waitaki County Council yesterday that because of a dangerous crossing on the Waiareka Valley road making a 10-mile detour necessary when the creek was swollen, milk for the town supply became impaired by the morning sun. When it arrived at the treating house in Oamaru, it was stated, bacteria had arisen and difficulty was experienced in pasteurising it. It was for this reason that the town complained of bad milk in the summer time.

The deputation from the North Otago Milk Producers’ Association comprised Messrs E. J. Ewing and H. M. Wilde, who asked for an improvement in the Waiareka Valley road. Mr Ewing said that for 20 years ratepayers had sent petitions to have a bridge erected over the crossing, and their patience had become exhausted. For 365 days in the year the milk lorry carted milk to Oamaru, sometimes twice a day, and when the stream was swollen the truck could not get across and had to make a detour of 10 miles. Sheep, wheat, and cream lorries in season used the road, and also the rural delivery car and grocer's van. School children could not get across, and he had seen a mother carrying her boy over the stream in the morning and afternoon. Mr Ewing also drew attention to the unsatisfactory state of the road surface, and his representations were supported by Mr Wilde and Cr Taylor, who said the improvement was long overdue. Councillors, with the engineer, agreed to inspect the crossing and road in the afternoon,