SUPPLY OF MILK TO SCHOOLS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20671, 9 March 1937, Page 12

SUPPLY OF MILK TO SCHOOLS

COUNCIL DISCUSSION QUESTION OF PROCEDURE The question of the distribution of milk to schools was discussed at a meeting of the Timaru Borough Council last night, following the presentation of a report by the Council’s milk committee. The report stated: “A circular from the Director-General of Health of February 9 was considered and in view of the fact that his Worship was calling a meeting of those concerned, the committee decided to take no action in the matter, beyond expressing its willingness to act if requested to do so.” Cr A. S. Kinsman, who is chairman of the committee, said that in regard to the question of milk supply to schools, he found himself in a peculiar position. The meeting was called, as suggested by the Director-General of Health and a committee was set up. but he found that this committee had no machinery with which to function. He called on the Town Clerk the following morning with a sheaf of resolutions asking him to write all over the country and obtain a good deal of information, but he pointed out that the only thing necessary to be done was immediately to call for quotations from milk vendors for the supply of

milk for about 200 days in the year in quantities which the speaker estimated to be about 200 gallons daily—such quotations to be submitted to the Health Department. The committee set up seemed to think that a good deal of work was entailed, but on discussing the matter with the Town Clerk it appeared that there was very little work entailed and that the Council had all the machinery with which to undertake the work. Cr. Kinsman said that it seemed to him a pity that the matter was not left to the Council, which had all the requisite knowledge of the suppliers’ premises, and whose Sanitary Inspector attended its Milk Committee and worked in conjunction with the officers of the Agricultural Department. It was a pity that the Health Department did not either ask the Council to undertake this work or that it should have otherwise made arrangements for its own officers or for officers of another Department, such as the Agricultural Department, to run the business. “It is a great pity that this deadlock is occasioned,” said Cr. Kinsman, “as prior to receiving the circular from the Health Department, we were already taking steps in connection with the supply of milk and the only effect of this request was to set up a committee has been to delay the whole proceedings.” No Actual Standing Cr. W. G. Tweedy said that he felt that they had no actual standing. The services of the Council’s Milk Committee were offered, but they were turned down. A separate committee had been set up, on which the Council’s committee was represented, but it was not a committee of the Council, and they had no standing. The conditions of tender provided for the milk coming from T.B. tested herds. The matter should not be proceeded with until the conditions of tender were made available. The Town Clerk stated that the conditions were made available to those interested. Cr. P. B. Foote said that he did not wish to criticise the action of the Mayor in calling the meeting, but it appeared to him as a matter of efficiency that the committee of the Council was the right committee to handle the distribution of milk to schools. There was still plenty of scope for the special committee to deal with schools outside Timaru. He moved: “That the Council offer through its milk committee to deal with the distribution of milk to schools in the Borough, the schools outside the Borough to be dealt with by such other committee as may be directed by the Health Department.” Cr. Tweedy said that there were difficulties in the way of restricted activity. Cr. J. R. Hart said that they had | offered to assist, and they had been turned down. That, being so. there was nothing more to do. Cr. W. H. Hall seconded Cr. Foote's motion, stating that he wanted to see the schools get the milk this year. “Mistaken Action” The Mayor supported the motion. He said he thought it was a mistaken action on the part of the committee to turn the offer down, ff the committee did not make better progress than it did at its meeting, then it would be two years before the schools got any milk. Cr. Tweedy said that he thought divided control inadvisable, because It made for a distinction between town and country schools. As the matter stood, he was opposed to the motion. The Mayor pointed out that they had been asked to deal with the town schools only. He thought It would be wise to take one step at a time. The second part of the motion was deleted, and the first portion dealing with town schools was carried. IN OPERATION IN DUNEDIN By Telegraph--Pr**”” DUNEDIN. March 8. The Government’s scheme for the supply of milk to school children was brought into operation in city schools this morning, and is to be extended to outlying districts from Mosgiel to Port Chalmers on Monday next. A feature of the scheme is that it is not limited in its operation to State schools. It includes all primary schools, whether private of denominational. and secondary schools may also participate. The milk necessary to provide each child in the schools with a half-pint each day is being supplied by the Taieri and Peninsula Milk Supply Company, Ltd., under contract with the Government, and 500 gallons were distributed to meet to-day's requirements. The delivery of approximately 3000 half-pint bottles called for no little organisation on the part of the contractors. Many of the schools served were included in the regular rounds of the company’s vans, but this did not meet the position, and it was found necessary to press two special lorries into service.