Co-operative Dairying.

Otago Witness, Issue 1892, 8 May 1890, Page 19

Co-operative Dairying.

TO TIIK KDITOK

SIX.-I hive lafceiv husitd myself in Retting master dairy tren to sign a piper, li;ivi:>tf for my purpose tho shortening of the Irmrs nf I hose connected with tlio milk Ir il». In canvassing for aignitures I me*; with almost unqua iii-d success, for 55 of GO a'gned willingly, and six of the remaining 11 professed sympathy but preferred to remain ne itrat

At proscnt the hours aro often enough between 15 and 16 hours a day, holidays and Sundays only being different irom other days in that on« get 6 off a few hours during mi-lday. I found out that the fueling was pi otty universal that a shortening of tho hours is absolutely necessary if the milkmen are to have any time to th"ms' Ives for self-improvement. The boys and girls are particularly to bo pitied, for scores work pret'.y well as 'ong hours as thfir seniors, and are supposed to attend school— a pure farce when their work and long hours are taken into consideration.

The encouragement 1 met with set me thinking, and I now go further, and think not only that the hours cm be shortened with advantage, tnit that the whole of the dairyman couid combine and work on the co-oper-f iv- principe, with p-oiit to themselves au'l benefit, to the community al large. I p'opoeean nmalgtimation of all dtiries, and the establishment of depots, fn r nishfd with the most approved aj'pllnnces for tfstin.", preserving, and rtp'ivering milk. The milk could b) supplied to th ' depots by dairymen who " EurreiidPr their ruup," in proportion to the quvitity they nrn rolling at th" timo of tho establishment r f fhn company, and after tha expanses were paid the profits could bu divided j>ro rnta, Th« advantages to tV 1 milkmen would be: 1. Abolition of bad debts.

2 Shorter hours,

3 A great saving in for one distributing waggon in town, with t wo 1-<lb, could cover as mucn ground as Is nt present covered l>y, perhaps, a do7.en, oue waggou being suflicivut lor several streets. Iv

bringing the milk to town, a similar saving could ba made, one waggon gathering the milk of a dozen or more dairies.

4. Undue competition would be done away with, and a uniform price jsould be fixed, which would be profitable to dairymen, and yet not lead to an increased price to consumers, because the economical working of the company would allow a fair profit on present retail prices. 5. The whole of the dairymen's time could be spent on the dairy farms, in such ways aB would lead to a decided improvement, both ia quality and quantity of their milk. 6. Other advantages will suggest themselves to those interested. Consumers, on the other hand, would get a regularjsupply at a reasonable hour and price ; and a guarantee that the milk was pure, wholesome, and undiluted could be given by the appointment of a medical health officer, and, if necessary, by the licensing of all dairieß supplying the depots. By these means the public would have every safeguard possible, and we should hear no more of filthy dairies and diseased cattle in connection with our milk supply. I think my scheme, perfected in detail by hints received through the practical discussion of it in your columns, would vastly improve the present system of milk supply, and be beneficial alike to producers and consumers. Hoping other pens will take up the matter and help to bring about the desired reformation,— l am, &c, Anderson's Bay, May 6. D. M'Oubdy.