MILK FOR 9000 CHILDREN

Southland Times, Issue 23827, 26 May 1939, Page 6

MILK FOR 9000 CHILDREN

School Distribution , In Southland SCHEME TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK ABOUT 600 GALLONS - NEEDED DAILY The distribution of a daily ration of half a pint of milk to about 9000 pupils of Southland schools is expected to begin next week. The extension of the Health Department’s milk-in-schools scheme to Southland has been delayed by unexpected difficulties, but these now appear to have been overcome.

Mr G. Hern, engineer for James J. Niven and Co. Ltd., arrived in Invercargill from Christchurch last night to supervise the installation of the P as “ teurizing and. bottling plant. The nlant reached Invercargill several months ago, but the installation could not be undertaken until certain important details had been decided. Only a few days will be required to carry out the work. , ~. Arrangements for the supply the milk were made with district farmers several months ago. It has been necessary to ensure a continuous supply during the winter months and this has been guaranteed by the farmers. For the first winter it may be difficult to maintain the supply, particularly as the introduction of the scheme has been so long delayed, but every. effort will be made to ensure that the milk is available for the children throughout the winter and spring terms. After the present winter it is not expected that any difficulty will arise in maintaining continuity of supply. Children in Eastern Southland schools are already provided with the milk ration from Balclutha, and the new scheme will cover all other parts of the province from Mataura to the Western District. The distribution of the milk requires a considerable amount of organization to provide a complete coverage of all schools. For the first few days it is possible that several distant schools in the Western District will not be supplied, but arrangements are being made for the milk to be delivered to them as soon as possible. Special vans and some existing district mail and bus services will be used for the transport of the milk which will arrive fresh at the schools each morning. An elaborate plant will be utilized to pasteurize the milk which will be distributed in individual half-pint, sealed bottles. In the initial stages of the scheme about 600 gallons of milk a day will be required to provide about 9000 separate rations. As more schools are brought into the scope of the scheme a bigger quantity will be used. The milk will be handled at the premises of the Invercargill Milk Supply in Nith street. A special organization has been formed to control the operation of the scheme.