MILK DISTRIBUTION IN SCHOOLS

Southland Times, Issue 23544, 25 June 1938, Page 8

MILK DISTRIBUTION IN SCHOOLS

EXTENSION OF SCHEME DESfRED

The desirability of extending to Southland the Health Department’s plan for the extension of the scheme for the distribution of free milk in schools was discussed by the Southland Education Board yesterday. Mr W. Excell said he was informed that schools within a radius of 40 or 50 miles from Christchurch received a distribution of free milk daily. He wished to know whether anything had been done to extend the scheme to Southland. Mr F. G. Stevenson said that milk was already being distributed in the Gore district. The department had entered into an arrangement with an Invercargill milk vendor for a scheme for the distribution of milk to city schools and the surrounding districts as far as Bluff and Edendale. The vendor had undertaken to install apparatus costing about £3OOO. In the event of the scheme not being continued he would receive compensation. Mr Excell asked whether the scheme could not be extended to the whole of Southland. Mr W. Bell said that sometimes it would be a case of carrying coals to Newcastle.

The chairman (Mr S. Rice) said the department wished to distribute sterilized, germ-proof milk. He believed that milk was being sent from Southland to supply Dunedin schools. It was decided to recommend that committees desiring the service should apply to the Health Department.